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6/1/24

Open Thread: What To Do WIth Jeff McNeil if You Were the GM?

Jeff McNeil, in the Glory Days of Two Years Ago

Jeff McNeil arrived to the majors in late 2018.  

He was already 26 when he debuted, due to missing most of 2 minor league seasons with injuries, and in point of fact entering the 2018 minor league season in most prognosticators' minds as a maybe-major-leaguer-someday guy.

That's why they play the games.

Due to his late debut, while he seems to have not been a NY Met all that long, he is now already 32 years, 2 months old.

Jeff is still owed roughly $38 million through 2026 (remainder of this season on a $10.25 million contract, 2025 and 2026 at $15.75 MM per year, and a club option, unlikely at this point to be exercised, with an apparent $2 million buy out for 2027, if I read Spotrac correctly.  So they owe him $40 million for all intents and purposes.

End of May 2022, the year prior to his current multi-year deal, in which he won the MLB batting title, he was at .318 through the end of May.  Roaring.

In 2023, through the end of May, 30 points lower at .288.  Contributing.

This year, thru May 30, in 55 games, just .224 with little power. Offensive liability.

 - 90 points lower than the comparable date in 2022.

Considering all that:

What is your envisioned plan for Jeff McNeil, if you were the Mets' GM?  Not a plan that has to be executed today, but what would your plan be in the months to come?



8 comments:

  1. I was of the opinion, in spite of him winning the batting title, not to extend him. I felt they should have gone through the arbitration years and see what happened. Now with the money owed him, is he movable? To move him, will you have to assume most of those dollars? Today, I think you try and trade him for the best deal you can, which may not be much. A change may do him well. Plus with Acuna heating up in Syracuse, by the time you trade him, Acuna, might be ready to be ready.

    Steve

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  2. I would keep Jeff as a super utility guy. Fourth OF and back up to all IF positions. I

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  3. I would look for a trade, even eating some money to get something somewhat decent in return. Then I would promote Acuna to play second. I know his overall numbers don't look great but he had a good May and we need his speed in the line up. Maybe Jeff would improve in a new environment but I think his body is breaking down. He's always been somewhat injury prone

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  4. Good comments, gents. He needs to flip his mitt into the stands and say, sorry…can you trade me to Colorado?

    I do think we need to see if he can heat up and then decide. I would platoon him with Iglesias for now. If he gets hot, re-insert him. The contract? A great one for him, another bad one for the Mets as you state, Steve. Jon G, right now, they’d probably have to eat $25 million of his remaining contractual obligation, off the top of my head. That is not much salary relief.

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  5. McNeil:
    2024
    Home: .155/.230/.194/.424
    Away: .301/.369/.462/.831

    2023
    Home: .281/.350/.405/.755
    Away: .261/.319/.354/.672

    2022
    Home: .297/.365/.414/.779
    Away: .356/.399/.493/.892

    Are we sure McNeil is washed up, or is he just psyched out?

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  6. Gus, I have an article on Citi dimensions tomorrow. I will add those stats in.

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  7. Gus…And to your comments recently on catcher injuries caused by swings, the Buffalo catcher was badly injured when hit hard in the head by a new AAA Mets’backswing.

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  8. The future of Jeff on the Mets is dependent upon whether or not the Mets target the team salary issue prior tom the 2025 season.

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