Opinion: Mets trading Jeff McNeil to Athletics not a surprise

Jeff McNeil (D.Benjamin Miller, Wikimedia Commons)

There was a trade made in Major League Baseball on Monday between the New York Mets and Athletics, and this trade was not a significant surprise. With the Mets signing second baseman Jorge Polanco of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic to a two-year deal worth $40 million on December 16, it was just going to be a matter of time before the Mets traded second baseman Jeff McNeil of Santa Barbara, California. They did just that this week.

McNeil was traded to the Athletics for pitching prospect Jordan Rodriguez. McNeil has spent his entire career with the Mets, since the 2018 MLB season.

In 2025, McNeil batted .243 with 12 home runs and 54 runs batted in. During 122 games, 399 at bats, and 462 plate appearances, he scored 42 runs and had 97 hits, 21 doubles, five triples, three stolen bases, 164 total bases, two sacrifice bunts, four sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .335, and a slugging percentage of .411.

McNeil has been a National League All-Star twice in his career. The first time came in 2019, and the second time came in 2022.

During the 2019 MLB season, McNeil batted .318 with 23 home runs and 75 runs batted in. He played in 133 games, scored 83 runs and had 162 hits, 38 doubles, one triple, five stolen bases, 35 walks, 271 total bases, one sacrifice fly, an on base percentage of .384 and a slugging percentage of .531.

Then in 2022, McNeil had the best batting average in the Major Leagues at .326. He had 174 hits in 533 at bats. McNeil also scored 73 runs and had 39 doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 62 runs batted in, four stolen bases, 40 walks, 242 total bases, five sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .382 and a slugging percentage of .454.