Mets rumors: Jeff McNeil trade discussions, interest in the infield market

The idea of subtracting from the major league roster seems to have died down for the New York Mets. However, buried at the bottom of a story by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Jeff McNeil’s name has come up in Mets rumors.

As DiComo notes, the possibility of trading McNeil seems slim given his recent hot streak. Nevertheless, if the Mets were looking to get creative, selling their starting second baseman to a team in need of such a versatile player could make sense.

Bigger is the idea that the Mets have been “sniffing around the infield market.” The roster currently includes only four infielders with McNeil as more of a hybrid.

A last-second Mets trade involving Jeff McNeil remains unlikely

McNeil’s increasingly unfavorable contract knocks down his value a lot on the trade market. The Mets would probably need to eat a part of his deal in order to get anything of value in return. Flipping him and looking for other infield upgrades doesn’t seem like the wisest of choices. McNeil has value as a backup at multiple positions. His bat suddenly catching fire doesn’t make it easier to part with either.

Subtracting McNeil does mean Jose Iglesias becomes the immediate everyday second baseman. A promotion for Luisangel Acuna can also help without having to make a separate trade to bring in someone new.

A McNeil trade only works if the Mets are getting something back that helps them right now. As expensive as pitchers have been, the handful of position players traded today and in the recent days haven’t been ridiculously priced. Could sending him to an offensively challenged team for a reliever or starter work? There aren’t too many places where this works.

The Mets could always look to add an infielder even with McNeil staying put. Because of his ability to play the outfield, viewing him as more of a backup outfielder and splitting from Ben Gamel is a way to make this work.

But do the Mets really need another infielder right now? Syracuse has plenty of utility players. The Mets bench looks perfectly fine as is and unless Starling Marte is out for the year, any additions they do make could be on the roster bubble.