The Mets made a huge change last night as they shipped their franchise backbone Brandon Nimmo to Arlington for installation Marcus Semien as their new second baseman. Semien took a big step back with the bat over the past year but is still a quality defender, even with four wins as a league-average hitter in 2024 thanks to his glove. There’s no question that Semien will get the bulk of his playing time at second base next year, but that creates a lot of uncertainty for the Mets’ other infielders (except Francisco Lindoranyway).
Uncertainty is nothing new for the young infielders on the Mets roster. Luis Angel Acuna and Ronnie Mauricio Both played in Class 3A last year, and Mauricio could easily do that again in 2026. Mark Ventos Lost playing time through 2025, but could move on Pete Alonso (not to mention Starling Matt) could open up playing time for a big right-handed bat in the first base and DH mix. If Ventos moved to the other side of the diamond more often, there would be an opening at third base Brett Batty No need to walk around the diamond like you did this year to establish yourself. Then there are the looming infield prospects such as Jett Williams and Jacob Reimerboth of whom could reach the major leagues in 2026.
With all of this in mind, this deal seems to raise the most questions about the future Jeff McNeil. McNeil is owed $15.75MM in the final guaranteed year of his contract. He also owes a $2 buyout fee if his 2027 club option worth $15.75MM is declined. The Mets have never been afraid to flex their financial muscle under Steve Cohen, but even by his standards, committing to a position-less reliever is a lot of money. Marte made more than that last season, but he did start half of the Mets’ games entering the season. Jesse Wink.
Due to McNeil’s versatility, perhaps McNeil could get similar playing time if retained. While McNeil will primarily play second base in 2025, he also made nine starts at DH and 35 starts in the outfield. He’s also spent time at third base over the years, sometimes even making a cameo appearance at the start. That versatility could allow him to play a super-utility role on the field, although retaining McNeil for that purpose would certainly only further exclude the team’s young infielders in 2026.
That makes an offseason trade look like the best path forward, but there are complications with the plan. McNeil posted a 111 wRC+ in 122 games this year, which is understandable, but over the past three seasons, he’s been essentially league-average at the plate (102 wRC+), and he’s no longer great anywhere but second base defense. Entering his age-34 season, McNeil’s numbers are more likely to trend down than back up, and teams may be hesitant to give up a ton of talent or even offer the veteran a one-year deal at his current price.
The Mets certainly have the ability to eat some salary to increase the return on the trade if they wanted to, but it’s at least fair to wonder if they would be better off keeping McNeil for the time being. If the Mets are patient, injuries in spring training could give the team more incentive to add a short-term solution at second base, or injuries on their own roster could create a path for McNeil to earn regular playing time. If the Mets can’t get something valuable in return for the veteran’s contributions, there’s certainly a case to be made for keeping him, even if it complicates the adjustment situation for the club’s younger players. It’s also worth noting that a youngster like Acuna is definitely on the trade block to some extent. If the Mets make a big-money trade that moves young talent away for a starting pitcher, they might value McNeil more as a depth option.
If you were president of baseball operations David Stearns, how would you handle McNeil’s affairs after the Semien trade? Would you do everything you could to get him a trade this winter, even eating salary if necessary, or would you keep him as depth for spring training even if it meant disrupting playing time for younger players? Have your say in the poll below:
