The New York Mets’ most glaring weakness to this point remains the bullpen. The offense is very good and will be even better if Yoenis Cespedes manages to play at some point in 2020. The rotation, once top-heavy, is now deep with six reliable options to start.
The biggest question mark going to the new year is, therefore, the relief corps. The Mets re-signed Brad Brach but haven’t done much since, focusing on adding starters Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello to one-year deals.
Those two additions mean that Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo will start the season in the bullpen. Dellin Betances remains unsigned and can be an option via free agency.
The Mets have entertained the idea of trading outfielder Brandon Nimmo, but they don’t want to sell low. Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis’ names have also surfaced in the market.
Teams asking about the Mets’ hitting machine
But the newest name to be thrown around in the seemingly never-ending rumors is Jeff McNeil. He was the New York Mets’ leader in wRC+ in 2019, along with Pete Alonso, with 143.
McNeil is still in his prime, at age 27, so he would fetch a significant return. According to Newsday’s Tim Healey, “many teams recently have asked the Mets about Jeff McNeil.â€
He says that while the Mets have “indulged that interest with what-if scenarios,†they have resisted the idea of trading him or seriously consider doing so. As the writer notes, it would take a haul for the Mets to move a rising batting machine with an All-Star in his resume.
Highly unlikely to move
Additionally, he has five more seasons of team control. The Mets aren’t moving Jeff McNeil. But other teams are asking anyway because it doesn’t hurt to ask.
In 567 plate appearances with the New York Mets, McNeil hit 23 home runs, scored 83 runs and drove in 75. He had a 6.2 BB % and a very good 13.2 K %. His slash line was .318/.384/.531. He had a 4.6 fWAR season.