Obviously, there are two ways to deal with the future of a player who has just won the title of batting champion. The Twins, for example, opted to trade Luis Arraez.
For their part, the Mets have offered a four-year contract extension to Jeff McNeil, who thus avoids salary arbitration.
In fact, the player was asking for $7.75 million for this year. I don’t know how much he will earn in 2023 precisely, but over four years he will make $12.5 million, or $50 million in total.
The Mets can also keep him for one more year (2027) with a team option, bringing the contract up to $63.75 million.
The first two years of the contract (2023 and 2024) are arbitration years. He should therefore earn a little less money. In 2023, it should be around seven million dollars, for example.
Two or three years as a free agent are therefore taken into account. For a 30-year-old guy, it’s a great contract for training… but it is also for McNeil.
Why?
Because for a player who hits for average and not for power, going for a contract in two years (32 years) might have been a bad bet.
He is an asset on the field and at bat. He is loved by guys and fans. He wanted to stay with the team that drafted him in 2013. That’s it.
Now, when is a contract for Pete Alonso?
- Peter Fairbanks has also signed a contract.
- Alek Manoah loves the Blue Jays defense.
- Will Cole Hamels find a job?
- Fernando Tatis Jr. is ready for 2023.
- What awaits the A’s?
