Mets blockbuster trade puts two teams in prime position for Jeff McNeil originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jeff McNeil’s future with the New York Mets became a lot clearer the moment the club traded for Marcus Semien. Second base is locked down, Brett Baty is still in the picture, and McNeil’s path to everyday work has narrowed to a handful of utility reps. That’s why rival clubs have begun to circle.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe New York Post named the Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates as the most interesting possible landing spots for the 33-year-old.
McNeil remains more than a veteran spare part.
He quietly rebounded in 2025, hitting .243/.335/.411 with 12 home runs and a 111 wRC+ across 462 plate appearances. FanGraphs data shows a return of his trademark low strikeout rate (15.1%) and solid walk rate (10.4%), while Baseball Savant’s profile highlights one encouraging trend: his line-drive rate and hard-hit percentage both ticked back up after two down years. He was worth 2.1 WAR in 2025 — production that still plays.
He’s entering the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $50 million extension, with a 2027 club option. There’s some medical uncertainty after he underwent thoracic outlet surgery, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready for spring training.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhy the Mariners Fit
Seattle needs one thing more than power: contact and lineup stability behind Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. The Mariners finished with a 112 team wRC+ last season but still struggled with swing-and-miss issues in the bottom half. McNeil gives them an everyday option at second base and coverage in left field or DH. His OBP skills, left-handed bat and positional flexibility line up cleanly with how Seattle has built its roster. And unlike in Queens, he’d have a legitimate lane to start.
Why the Pirates Might Make Even More Sense
Pittsburgh posted MLB’s worst OPS (.655) in 2025, and the lineup behind Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz still lacks proven contact hitters. McNeil fills that hole immediately. He’s a bridge player — veteran stability as the Pirates continue cycling prospects through the infield and corner-outfield spots. The salary is real for a budget-conscious team, but the floor is exactly what they lack: a professional at-bat who lengthens the lineup and raises their baseline.
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