3 former frustrating NY Mets players who could lose their job before the All-Star Break

The New York Mets have had quite the underwhelming season thus far. David Stearns' re-tooled roster hasn't delivered, and while injuries have played a role in that, so has blatant underperformance. Preseason optimism has been replaced by disappointment in the minds of most fans.

Interestingly, it's not just the vibes inside the Mets' building that have been off -- something about the organization itself isn't maximizing its players (past and present), and in some cases is hurting them. While some recent ex-Mets have escaped this situation and gone on to find success elsewhere, others haven't been as lucky -- their "Mets misfortune" has followed them to their new teams. Three striking examples are Cedric Mullins, Jeff McNeil, and Ryne Stanek.

All three of these players were frustrating in the time leading up to their Mets departures, and they've continued to frustrate fans of their new teams. It's gotten to the point where all three are in danger of losing their jobs before this season's All-Star break.

3 ex-Mets who were frustrating in Queens and continue to struggle

Cedric Mullins

When the Mets acquired Mullins ahead of last season's All-Star break, they thought he might give them some version of the high-contact, base-stealing threat that enabled Mullins to win a Silver Slugger trophy in 2021 and bag an All-Star appearance in the same year (as a member of the Baltimore Orioles).

Mullins didn't look remotely close to an All-Star while wearing a Mets uniform. In 42 games, he hit .182/ .284/ .281 with two home runs.

Things have been pretty much just as bad for Mullins now that he's playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. Entering Tuesday, Mullins was hitting .198, and he's already been caught stealing six times. The Rays have been one of the best teams in baseball this year, and they have no reason to keep putting up with Mullins' sour production. A trade before the deadline wouldn't exactly be a shock, although it is notable that Mullins is finally starting to heat up a bit of late.

Jeff McNeil

McNeil used to be a fan favorite in Queens for his gritty personality. Perhaps it was that same personality that clashed with Francisco Lindor last season, leading to a ton of unnecessary drama in the clubhouse. Even if said drama was slightly overblown in the press, it didn't help that McNeil was also declining as a baseball player, and that decline has continued with the Athletics. McNeil snapped an 0-for-20 skid with an RBI knock on Monday night (see below), but that doesn't change the dreary reality of his season overall.

A career .281 hitter with a career .770 OPS, McNeil entered Tuesday with a .238 batting average and a .635 OPS in 2026 -- both would be the lowest figures of his career if the season ended today. The Athletics' youth movement has them loaded with interesting young players, one of whom might very well take the 34-year-old McNeil's job within the next month or two.

Ryne Stanek

Stanek was basically the pitching equivalent of Mullins for the Mets -- a very nice signing on paper, but the production simply didn't follow. Stanek tallied a 5.47 ERA with the Mets across 82 appearances. His inconsistent command was deeply frustrating for Mets fans to witness. He could look awesome at times (hearkening back to his Astros days), but it seems like every good outing was followed by two or three bad ones.

Things haven't been any better for Stanek with the St. Louis Cardinals this season, as he's accrued a 5.40 ERA in 31 appearances. Similar to the Athletics, the Cardinals and their youth movement don't have any reason to keep an underperforming veteran in place. Stanek's days in St. Louis are likely numbered. If he doesn't get traded, he'll probably get benched to allow a younger arm to get some experience.

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