2 trade targets, 1 free agent NY Mets fans might rather see at 2B than Jeff McNeil

New York Mets utility man Jeff McNeil is coming off a solid rebound campaign. He hit .243/.335/.411 with a .324 wOBA and 111 wRC+ over 462 plate appearances this season. McNeil put up a .168 isolated slugging percentage, leaning heavily into pulled flyballs. The veteran continued to strikeout at a lowly 11.9% rate, but also put up a career-best 10.6% walk rate. However, moving forward, Mets fans may want to see McNeil in a reduced role, or even traded in general, and someone else get regular reps at second base.

2026 will be McNeil’s age-34 season, and he ended the year on a sour note, with a 53 wRC+ in the month of September. Plus, his new approach relies heavily on pulled flyballs, rather than raw power. He was below the 20th percentile of both exit velocity (87.2 MPH) and barrel percentage (5.1%). If the Mets go searching for another second baseman, they should look into these two trade targets and this free agent.

Brendan Donovan would give the Mets plenty of flexibility

Brendan Donovan is about as consistent as you can get. Since breaking into the league with a strong 2022 rookie season, Donovan has become a guarantee to hit about .280 with a wRC+ hovering around 120, and roughly a dozen home runs, with average or better defense at multiple positions. With the St. Louis Cardinals mulling over a rebuild, trading for Donovan could be a big opportunity for the Mets to pick up a strong middle infielder.

Donovan hit .287/.353/.422 with a .337 wOBA, and 119 wRC+ over the course of 515 trips to the plate. He has always struck out at a very low rate, and 2025 was no different, with a 13% K%. On top of that, Donovan regularly puts up a respectable BB%, logging an 8.2% mark this season. While he may never be a huge power threat, Donovan hit 11 home runs in 118 games and put up a .135 isolated slugging percentage. There’s even potential for more pop as well. Donovan had an 89.7 MPH exit velocity and an 8.8% barrel rate. His expected slugging percentage came in at .462, which was in the 67th percentile of qualified hitters in 2025.

Donovan is primarily a second baseman. He graded out as about average with the glove at the keystone, with -2 defensive runs saved, but +2 outs above average. But Donovan is more than familiar with the rest of the diamond. He has logged at least 100 innings at first base, third base, shortstop, left field, and right field. His best position per defensive metrics is the hot corner, where he has +6 DRS and +3 OAA in 269.2 innings.

Donovan has two more years of control left and will be a free agent after the 2027 campaign. Having Donovan on hand would make the Mets’ roster very flexible. Both he and Jeff McNeil could share second base duties and play all over the field when needed. Donovan provides the Mets with many avenues for line-up construction while consistently being a quality bat.

Brandon Lowe is the power bat the Mets need

Donovan provides a contact-focused approach, but Brandon Lowe would give the Mets another middle-of-the-order slugger. Lowe is also an infielder the Mets reportedly had interest in during this year’s trade deadline. The Tampa Bay Rays never seem to have any player who is untouchable in trade talks, so it might be time for the Mets to reopen the book on a Lowe trade.

Lowe finished off the year batting .256/.307/.477 with a .334 wOBA, and 114 wRC+. He hit 30+ home runs for the second time in his career, with 31 dingers, while putting up a .221 ISO. His 91.1 MPH exit velocity was tied for the highest mark among second basemen, and his 12.9% barrel rate trailed just Jazz Chisholm and Ketel Marte. The downside is Lowe’s plate discipline. He only walked at a 6.9% rate with a 32.1% chase rate, both of which are career-worst. His 26.9% K% fell in line with his career-average, but still wasn’t great. If the Mets want another power bat, Lowe is the guy, as only Marcus Semien and Jose Altuve have more home runs among second basemen since Lowe’s 2019 rookie season.

If the Mets acquired Lowe, they would probably need to have someone as a defensive replacement. Lowe’s 2025 season was his worst when it came to defense. He had -14 DRS and -13 OAA. His previous career low in both stats was -7 and -5, respectively, both of which came in 2021. He was the only 2B with double-digit negative OAA. Only five total players had less than -10 OAA and DRS this season as well. 

Lowe is owed $11.5 million, as his player option is guaranteed to get picked up. That is also the last year of control he has left. However, if the Mets want to add yet another big-time power threat to their already powerful line-up that was fifth in home runs among all 30 MLB teams, Lowe would be the best option when it comes to trade.

Jorge Polanco is the top second base free agent

Brandon Lowe is the best power bat at second base on the trade market, but Jorge Polanco is the best that will be on the free agent market this offseason. The switch-hitter’s 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners is arguably the best campaign of his career yet, at least with the bat. He set career-highs in multiple stats, and will soon head into free agency.

Polanco rebounded nicely from a poor 2024 season to turn in a .265/.326/.495 triple-slash over 524 plate appearances. He went yard 26 times, which trailed just the previously mentioned Lowe, along with Jazz Chisholm, Ketel Marte, and Jose Altuve. Polanco wasn’t just a power threat with no plate discipline, either. He walked at an 8% rate with a career-low 15.6% K% (outside of the 2020 season). All told, he had a 132 wRC+ and career-best career-high .350 wOBA. Polanco ranked second in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+, among his second base peers.

The downside to Polanco’s game is his defense. He’s never been much of a defender and even spent a majority of his 2025 season as the Mariners’ designated hitter. Polanco shifted from shortstop to second base in 2021, and the defensive metrics aren’t kind to Polanco. He has -2 DRS, a -8.3 UZR/150, and -28 OAA in 3528.2 innings at the keystone. He also has some playing time at third base, but it is his least familiar position.

Polanco does have a player option, but it is only $6 million. He is a guarantee to test free agency. When Polanco opts out of his current deal, he’ll become the best hitter at second base and one of the best bats in general on the open market. While the Mets may make the sacrifice on defense when it comes to Polanco, they’d be getting a high-quality bat.