Darryl Strawberry wants Pete Alonso to break his Mets home run record
And where does Jeff McNeil factor into the Mets long term plans?
What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎
Add Darryl Strawberry to the list of Mets fans urging the organization to sign first baseman Pete Alonso to a long-term contract extension (NY Post)
What is Jeff McNeil’s future with the Mets?✍️
Jeff McNeil has seemingly been a bit of an underdog his entire Mets career.
Overlooked throughout much of his journey through the club’s minor league system, McNeil didn’t earn his first big league promotion until the age of 26 when he essentially forced the organization’s hand by hitting .342 in the minor leagues.
In New York, he’s become the Mets Swiss army knife over the past several seasons. A natural second baseman, McNeil has played every position other than pitcher and catcher during his career, and has consistently been a productive hitter in countless different spots in the line-up.
In 672 career games to date, he’s slashed .298/.361/.438 with 215 extra-base hits, 269 RBI, and 29 stolen bases.
But heading into 2024, I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for one of the Mets most popular players. The Mets have McNeil under contract for the next three seasons, and they even hold a club option on him in 2027.
But a quick glance into the near future indicates the diamond at Citi Field could get crowded in a hurry.
For starters, we know shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Brandon Nimmo have long term deals that will keep them here for a very long time. We all emphatically hope, and for the sake of this argument will assume, the same will be true for Pete Alonso at first base. Those players account for three of the seven positions on the field where McNeil could conceivably play.
The Mets farm system was boosted dramatically last summer with the plethora of trades they made that have been documented ad nauseum on this platform. But primarily as a result of that, the way things stand right now, the team now has several high impact prospects at the upper level of its minor league system. And two of the Mets current top three prospects, Luisangel Acuña and Jett Williams could end up taking over the other two infield openings.
Then there’s Drew Gilbert who was landed from Houston in the Justin Verlander deal, whom the Mets surely envision as their center fielder of the future.
This was a long way to illustrate that by my own estimation, as early as 2025 the Mets could have as little as one starting position not occupied by guys with lucrative long-term contracts or young players the team intends to build around.
So is the plan heading into the future essentially for McNeil to become the Mets starting right fielder? Or be a super utility guy that essentially plays every day just bouncing all over the diamond?
You’d think some positional continuity would add a comfort level that could help his offensive production—though to be fair McNeil’s offense has never suffered from his lack of defensive stability.
But it does make me wonder if he could potentially become a trade candidate eventually.
The Mets know McNeil can hit, and value his production, but he doesn’t necessarily hit for enough power to play a corner outfield position regularly. He’s also already well into his 30’s, and for a team sort of in transition—not saying rebuild—but youth is clearly going to be the priority here in the near future.
I’m not saying McNeil will definitely be traded. Nor am I suggesting he should. But it does make me wonder.
Hot Stove 🔥
The Angels signed veteran right-handed hitter Hunter Dozier to a minor league contract (MLB Network)
Philadelphia added righty Ryan Burr on a minor league agreement (MLBTradeRumors)
The Astros are emerging as a potential landing spot for Josh Hader (Athletic)