McNeil traded to Sacramento

[Gwreck]

For a 17 year old pitching prospect. And Mets sending $5.75M with Jeff, so the next savings is $10M in 2026 salary plus the $2M buyout of his 2027 option.

This is…odd. McNeil is as useful a bench/utility player as there is, and it’s not like he is expensive or signed for a long time…

[metirish]

Seems bizarre

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's strange that, with the exception of Williams and Diaz, players are leaving before their replacements are lined up. Unless perhaps Polanco is the replacement for McNeil.

[Edgy MD]

Seems like a house is being cleaned.

McNeil had no role, except he slotted comfortably and willingly into every role. Batted in every spot in the lineup, and defended at every spot on the field.

[ashie62]

Not surprised at all

Agitators leaving

[MFS62]

Unless perhaps Polanco is the replacement for McNeil.

 

That seems more logical than the stories I've seen that Jeff would platoon with Polanco at first base.

Also- I had to double clutch to try to remember the team now calling Sacramento their home.

Later

Edited December 22, 2025 by MFS62

[Gwreck]

Seems like a house is being cleaned.

 

The only players left from the 101-win 2022 Mets are Lindor and Peterson. (Plus the very small cups of coffee that Baty, Vientos, and Alvarez had when they debuted that year).

 

he slotted comfortably and willingly into every role. Batted in every spot in the lineup, and defended at every spot on the field.

 

A guy as good as McNeil as your key utility player is a luxury item…seemingly ideal for a team with massive resources.

Dumping him to just save money doesn’t make sense on its face.

[Fman99]

Not surprised at all

Agitators leaving

 

I think this is the real reason. Keep Lindor happy by giving McNeil the ol shove-a-rooni

[Benjamin Grimm]

The pitcher is Yordan Rodriguez. Here's what Baseball America has to say:

 

Rodriguez, 17, signed for $400,000 out of Cuba in 2025 and made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League, striking out 20 batters with a 2.93 ERA over 15.1 innings. His velocity ticked up this summer from a relatively low-effort delivery and his four-seamer sat in the low 90s and touched 96 mph with above-average extension. He also spun a low-80s slider that averaged nearly 2,700 rpm, and while he didn’t use it much as a pro, threw a changeup as an amateur. He’s a long ways away and was not set to rank in the Athletics’ Top 30 Prospects, but has shown some encouraging pitchability and starter traits. He was one of the Top 20 pitching prospects in the DSL this year, according to Baseball America’s Ben Badler.

[MFS62]

I would think they're hoping that as he fills out, the fastball might tick up 4 or 5MPH.

If so, the kid sounds promising.

Later

[smg58]

McNeil was worth a bit more than his salary last year, so if the Mets got nothing for him they were much better off keeping him.

[ashie62]

I think the Mets threw the baby out with the bathwater

[Edgy MD]

The only players left from the 101-win 2022 Mets are Lindor and Peterson. (Plus the very small cups of coffee that Baty, Vientos, and Alvarez had when they debuted that year).

 

You know, Tylor Megill has feelings!

[Gwreck]

I’ll apologize to Tylor if he ever throws another pitch in the majors for the Mets.

[metsmarathon]

This feels like a fantabulously low return for a guy who’s bringing along a suitcase filled with $6m dollars or so, let alone a valuable offensive and defensive contribution. Edited December 23, 2025 by metsmarathon

[whippoorwill]

Sacramento?

[kcmets]

This is one of the dumber things that has happened

in late 2025.

But there's still eight-nine days to go...

[Centerfield]

I don't know anything about the clubhouse. But it must have been a mess for any of this to make sense.

Jeff McNeil is an incredibly useful player. Before getting hurt last September, his OPS was hovering around .800. Even with his slump, his OPS would have been top 10 among second basemen in MLB. Left alone, we would have returned useful players at 2B, LF and 1B, along with the best closer in the game.

We are now worse all four of those positions. For 2B and closer, we are already locked into lesser replacements.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It would be one thing if Yordan Rodriguez was a very highly regarded prospect, but he doesn't seem to be. Even if the Mets decided that McNeil had to go, I'm surprised that this was the best deal they were able to find.

Ten years from now, if Rodriguez is the ace of the Mets staff, this will look like a great trade. But at this point it really doesn't make sense.

I'm really perplexed about what they're doing. Now I see rumors that the Mets are discussing a trade for another second baseman, Ketel Marte. I have my doubts about that one, but maybe they're going to flip Semien? I have no idea.

[MFS62]

Sacramento?

 

The A's new home. (for now)

Later

[Edgy MD]

This feels like a fantabulously low return for a guy who’s bringing along a suitcase filled with $6m dollars or so, let alone a valuable offensive and defensive contribution.

 

I confess that it is largely a mystery to me how these trades work.

This very same Mets organization sent Max Scherzer to Texas with a whole baggage cart full of suitcases — containing $35 million-plus in American currency — for Luisangel Acuna (I cannot figure out the tilde shortcut on my new keyboard). I like Luisangel Acuna (apologies again for the tilde thing), but I cannot think of a scenario where a team pays $35 million for his contract, let alone sending a Hall of Fame pitcher along in the bargain.

[Edgy MD]

It would be one thing if Yordan Rodriguez was a very highly regarded prospect, but he doesn't seem to be.

 

For what it is worth, guys don't tend to make prospect lists after 15 innings of DSL ball*. Cuban teenagers are a mystery to begin with. He may (probably) turn out to be no great shakes, but prospect watchers have not gotten a chance to see him/place him in much of a useful context/build any consensus around him. But the Mets may well have scouted him and been crazy about him.

I am suspicious of any pitcher who is already primarily a reliever at 17, but I realize that there is a good chance I am dead before he reaches the majors (assuming he does).

* This is less true of position players, for various reasons.

[kcmets]

I realize that there is a good chance I am dead before he reaches the majors (assuming he does).

 

Yup©, I thought the exact same thing hahaha...

[Edgy MD]

I realize that there is a good chance I am dead before he reaches the majors (assuming he does).

 

Yup©, I thought the exact same thing hahaha...

 

You're thinking about my impending doom too?! Good God, I am decrepit.

Yesterday afternoon, I went outside to fix my back yard gate, and I'm out there, bending into the corner, ratchet-wrenching away, changing bolts and re-hanging the gate, thinking I'm a badass, and the neighbor lady and her busybody grade-school daughter came over because they saw me crouched over in the corner of the yard and thought I had died.

[Benjamin Grimm]

My girlfriend is eight years younger than me and on maybe three occasions I've been mistaken for her father. (Thankfully, husband is far more frequent.)

[kcmets]

You're thinking about my impending doom too?! Good God, I am decrepit.

 

Well no, I was thinking of my own impending doom!

I'm willing to share though!

[YOUTUBE]PrBUjXaRSUQ[/YOUTUBE]

[Edgy MD]

That is beautiful.

Meanwhile, there is no vacation for Steve Gelbs:

[YOUTUBE]Sx7FUupb8uE[/YOUTUBE]

[Edgy MD]

BILLY

Hey, Jeff. I’ve been thinking... I want you to ... .

JEFF

You gonna teach me something?

BILLY

Excuse me?

JEFF

I’ve never seen a president of baseball operations talk to players.

BILLY

You’ve never seen a PoBO who was a player.

JEFF

Huh.

BILLY

Is there a problem?

JEFF

It’s okay, man. I know your stupid horseshit. It’s a patter, it’s rap, it’s for effect. That’s okay. But it’s for them, it’s not for me.

BILLY

You’re special?

JEFF

You’re ****ing paying me 15.75 million bucks so I guess I ****ing am a little.

BILLY

As a matter of fact, I’m not "****ing" paying you 15.75 million bucks, Jeff. The Mets are paying over one third of your salary. That’s what the New York Mets think of you. They’re paying you five and three quarters million dollars to play against them.

JEFF

Where the **** you going with this, Billy?

BILLY

You’re almost 34, Jeff. Almost as old as Brad Pitt when he first shot this scene. Let’s be honest with each other about what we each want. I want to milk the last ounce of baseball you have left in you, and you want to stay in The Show. So let’s do ...

JEFF

This is ****ing Sacramento, Billy. It only technically counts as The Show.

BILLY

I was saying ... you want to stay in The Show. So let’s do ...

JEFF

When we're on the road, I guess that counts as The Show.

BILLY

So let’s ...

JEFF

The part of the show that everybody is ****ing rooting against, but sure, it's "The Show."

BILLY

Are you done?

JEFF

Just "being honest," as you say, Bill.

BILLY

Where was I? ... I’m not paying you to be the red-ass you used to be, I’m paying you to be the red-ass you are now. You’re foul. You're profane. You understand that the world is a filthy cesspool of outrages piled upon outrages. I need you to set an example for the younger guys. Take a leadership role. Teach them your filthy, filthy, prophetic profanity. The ****ing **********! this. And the Biggest ******** I've ever seen! that. You could really help us here.

JEFF

Wherever the **** "here" is.

BILLY

We’re cool?

JEFF

Eat my *******, Bily.

BILLY

All right.

[Centerfield]

I had to start over again once I realized you weren't talking about Billy Eppler.

My brain is slow these days.

[kcmets]

That is beautiful.

 

He was quite something.

Ritchie Blackmore once said when he first heard

Ronnie James sing it made the hair on is neck stand

at attention.

Anyway, we now return to the McNutuy thread...