The New York Yankees lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets this offseason but attempted to soften the blow by trading for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams. To further solidify their roster, the Yankees could pursue another move to strengthen their infield. FanSided’s Jacob Mountz suggested the Yankees trade for Mets All-Star Jeff McNeil to replace Gleyber Torres, who signed with the Detroit Tigers in free agency.
“McNeil is a slap hitter who pulls the ball,” wrote Mountz. “While not typically known for power, his home run numbers could significantly improve in Yankee Stadium. Baseball Savant projects that McNeil would have hit 19 home runs there in 2024, compared to the 12 he actually hit.” McNeil, who won the batting title in 2022, struggled last season, posting a .238/.308/.384 slash line. A new environment could potentially help him regain form.
McNeil, 32, signed a four-year, $50 million deal in 2023 and is owed $15.75 million annually through 2026, with a club option for 2027 at the same amount. According to Mountz, trading McNeil could give the Mets a decent return while creating financial flexibility to focus on re-signing Pete Alonso.
The Yankees could consider McNeil for second base, as DJ LeMahieu, their other option, has been hampered by injuries and batted just .232 over the last two seasons. Adding McNeil would create an infield consisting of Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, McNeil, and Paul Goldschmidt.
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