The Mets gave Jeff McNeil a contract deal on Tuesday, but he’s still missing a key piece to his offseason ensemble: a new glove.
McNeil led the National League with a.326 batting average in 2022, and his teammate Francisco Lindor had promised him a car if he won the batting championship. However, McNeil has yet to get his promised vehicle.
McNeil recently submitted a video to Lindor of automobiles that piqued the shortstop’s interest, and he replied positively.
He thought they were great automobiles, McNeil stated at a news conference in Citi Field. They were “one make of a really excellent [car].”
This Arrangement Would Forever Alter His Life
There’s a chance McNeil won’t get his automobile until until the start of spring training in two weeks. The last two seasons of McNeil’s arbitration eligibility have been purchased by the $50 million four-year contract extension he already has. There is an additional option for a fifth year that may boost the total cost to $63.75 million.
McNeil, who is now 30, pointed out the dangers of passing up this chance for long-term stability in favour of waiting for free agency to come in two years.
The importance of “taking care of my family” to him was “massive,” he stated. Nothing is certain when you’re a fringe player at age 33 after having made your big league debut at age 26. Even though I am a nervous wreck in general, I believe this trait helps me play football every day. You have my permission to relax now.”
McNeil said that when the time for international arbitral players to find agreement with their individual teams expired in January, earnest discussions on the extension began. In this case, McNeil wanted an increase form $3 ,000,000 to $7.75 million. The $6.25 million offer was made by the Mets.
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As With Everything, Chance Plays A Role
McNeil won the batting championship for the Mets last year and became the team’s second player to do it (after Jose Reyes in 2011). He did so with an OPS of.836. McNeil’s 2021 campaign, in which he played 120 games and recorded a.679 OPS due in part to hamstring problems, was a step forward.
Now, he’s a part of a permanently established core in the lineup that also features Lindor & Brandon Nimmo. Pete Alonso, who is eligible for free agency following the 2024 season, is another possible piece of that puzzle, but operations manager Billy Eppler would to comment on whether or not the two sides had held extended negotiations.
Eppler sees the Braves’ pioneering efforts to keep its homegrown players under contract well before they become free agents as essential to the long-term health of his own franchise.
In some situations, including when “all the criteria and circumstances you are confronting force or speak to you to do it,” as Eppler put it, “[extensions before free agency] might be advantageous.” There may be occasions when you are in a position to utilise free agency to bolster your team rather than fill a need.
That’s how the company plans to develop in the future. We’d want to be in a position where we can complement our roster with free agents instead of having to travel abroad and sign a dozen or maybe more players every winter. Putting myself in that position is something I just can’t picture.
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The Match
McNeil joined the Mets in 2018, when they were in the midst of a rebuilding process, and quickly established himself as an important cog in a squad that finished with 101 victories in 2017. The Mets should be in playoff contention every year going forward, as owner Steve Cohen is prepared to invest at the highest levels of baseball to keep his rundown competitive.
During their time together in the Mets’ lower leagues, McNeil and Alonso bonded. One of McNeil’s first calls after finalising his agreement last week was to Alonso.
During a press appearance to announce her husband Jeff McNeil’s re-signing with the New York Mets, Tatiana McNeil brought their 6-month-old baby Lucas.
“Pete was very pleased,” McNeil remarked after hearing the news. I made the call to surprise him with the news that we were in negotiations to extend our contract, and he said it was “very fantastic.”
According to McNeil, “he is a wonderful teammate and excellent player.” I don’t know where he sits on a deal of that kind, and whether or not he would want to try out the free-agent market. I’ll simply let him and his delegates figure it out.
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Conclusion
When asked whether he thought Alonso, 28, would sign an extension as he did, McNeil expressed optimism. Last year, Alonso led the majors with 131 RBIs and led the league in home runs (40). With his 53 home runs in 2019, Alonso set a record for a rookie in the big leagues.
