NY Mets players whose roles will change following the trade deadline

Jeff McNeil

Speaking of McNeil… He’s another player whose role will change in a big way now that Báez is in Queens. The Mets trust McNeil’s ability to play multiple positions and likely will not have an issue making him useful at a variety of positions.

McNeil is a better fielder at second base, but he’s more than serviceable at the hot corner and is certainly a defensive upgrade over Davis.

Michael Conforto

Michael Conforto’s role isn’t exactly changing- he’s still the team’s primary right fielder- but Báez’s future with the Mets will have an effect on Conforto’s.

As we know, Conforto will become an UFA after the season is up. The Mets attempted to extend him in the offseason after he put up MVP numbers last year to a deal worth over $100 million, but Conforto’s camp didn’t agree. That was clearly a mistake because Conforto is having as disastrous a season as possible.

The 28-year-old is slashing .197/.326/.327 with a 13.1 BB%, 22.8 K%, .242 BABIP, .298 wOBA, 90 wrC+, and 0 WAR. Most of these numbers are career-lows. He also missed about a month with a serious hamstring injury.

Conforto has already lost most of his leverage because of his terrible season, but if the Mets are looking to keep Báez long-term, that will certainly have implications for Conforto and his potential new deal.

Conforto could very well end up having to accept a smaller deal because of the season he’s had and the fact that the Mets would be prioritizing Báez.