*Photo from the New York Post*
It appears that Jeff McNeil may be running out of time in Queens. The New York Mets are reportedly going to make McNeil's name available in trade talks when the lockout is over, according to Sports Illustrated's Pat Ragazzo.
The goal, according to Ragazzo, is to include McNeil's name in a possible trade for pitching help. There could also be clubhouse and culture reasons for a potential trade, as McNeil and Francisco Lindor were at the center of one of the biggest Mets controversies in 2021, as there reportedly was a heated argument between the two after a misplay on defense, with reports of Lindor grabbing McNeil by the net.
The Mets have made several moves in the last few seasons to try and change the team culture. GM's Jared Porter and Zack Scott are now gone, as were managers Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas. They also hired manager Buck Showalter recently, trying to whip the team into shape and help them get back in the playoffs.
Last season, his 4th in the big leagues, was one to forget for McNeil. He finished with a .251 batting average and .679 OPS, hitting 7 home runs and driving in 35, picking up 3 stolen bases in 120 games for the Mets. He's not too far removed from a stellar 2019 season, when he hit .318 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI's in 133 games, making the all star game and finishing in 4th place in the NL batting title race.
From a talent perspective, McNeil still has his 2019 all star talent at the forefront, both with the bat and the glove. He can play second base and left field the most, and can probably spell someone at shortstop or 3rd base. McNeil is also entering his first season of arbitration eligibility, and is projected to earn $2.8 million according to MLB Trade Rumors.
McNeil has become more of an excess good in New York, as the Mets have a depth chart logjam at each of the positions he has played. Robinson Cano is coming back from a suspension to play second base, with Eduardo Escobar also able to play there. New signings Starling Marte and Mark Canha will get plenty of time in the outfield, and JD Davis and Dominic Smith are also capable of being MLB starters.
I don't think the Mets aren't counting on Cano as their starting baseman. If the Mets trade McNeil, they'll bring in another starting position player, and Escobar will start at either 2nd or 3rd, depending on what other move they make.
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