MLB Rumors: Mets Looking At Trading Two Lineup Mainstays

 

The New York Mets made a number of significant moves prior to the lockout, and industry sources expect them to continue the makeover when business resumes, by dealing at least one of Jeff McNeil and/or Dominic Smith. 

Both players struggled in 2021, and Mets insider Mike Puma of the New York Post says "there is some expectation within the industry the Mets will trade" either McNeil, Smith or both, possibly in return for some pitching. 

Infielder McNeil batted a full 50 points below his career average, and registered an OPS of no less than 150 points down from his norm. 

After a tremendous season in the truncated 2020 campaign, 1B/OF Smith also saw a precipitous drop in '21, batting just .244 with a .667 OPS. 

Before the lockout, the Mets' free agent spending spree saw them bring in infielder Eduardo Escobar, along with outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha. In addition, 2B Robinson Cano is back on the roster after serving his 162-game suspension. 

All of those roster adds mean that playing time could be severely squeezed for McNeil and Smith, making them expendable. 

Could the DH help loosen things up, if it's adopted by the National League? Perhaps, though Puma suggests that the Mets might be more inclined to bring in another big name to fill that role. 

Both McNeil and Smith have shown some strong hitting tools in the past, however, along with position flexibility in the field, so their trade values would be far from nil, and likely able to return something of value to new Mets GM Billy Eppler. 

Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports