NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 28: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) New York Mets President David Stearns speaks to the media before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 28, 2024 in New York City. The Dodgers defeated the Mets 5-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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The New York Mets suffered a major disappointment this past season and, even with several veteran players set to return to the roster, they could be looking to shake things up.
First and foremost, the team faces free agency decisions on long-time stars Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz. Both will be seeking significant long-term contracts in free agency this winter, and the Mets could be looking to replace them after they failed to reach the playoffs this past season.
But even if one or both of those players come back, the team has some options for a new look next year.
The Mets can shuffle their infield and outfield in a number of ways with several versatile options on the roster. But it seems the team has already ruled out a pending change for one of their most versatile players, Jeff McNeil. Despite the fact that he is listed as the top option for center field on the depth chart, Mets president of baseball operations Dave Stearns has decided he won’t get a lot of reps out there.
“I think probably less,” Stearns said of the plans for McNeil to play center field next season compared to this past season, per Alex Smith of SNY. “I think we love Jeff’s positional versatility, but I don’t see us looking at that as a significant portion of his time for next year.”
McNeil played 31 games at center field this past season, which made it his second-most played position after second base. So Stearns comments might have been a bit of a surprise until news broke that they came after McNeil had undergone a surprising surgery.
“Jeff McNeil underwent what his agent, Garrett Parcell, described as a minor procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome shortly after the Mets season concluded,” Joel Sherman reported for the New York Post. “Parcell said that the injury particularly caused pain in his client’s swing late in the season.”
Injury concerns might now be at the top of mind for the Mets when they consider where to slot in McNeil next season. And his offensive numbers did seem to dip toward the end of this past campaign. Now, the versatile player is entering the final year of a four-year, $50 million contract with the Mets and he seems to be a far cry from the All-Star form he flashed in 2019 and 2022 with the team.
As the Mets look to get the most out of McNeil in what could be his final year in Queens, it seems they’ve ruled out asking him to play much in one of the most challenging defensive positions on the field.