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Jeff McNeil, Mets Reportedly Agree to 4-Year, $50M Contract Extension
January 27, 2023
The New York Mets continued their winter spending spree on Friday by agreeing to a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Jeff McNeil, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The deal is pending a physical and also includes a fifth-year option that could bring the value to $63.75 million, Passan added.
McNeil was initially eligible for arbitration in both 2023 and 2024 and would have become a free agent in 2025 had he not put pen to paper on an extension.
The Mets embarked on a massive spending spree this winter when they signed reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86.7 million deal on Dec. 7. Two days later on Dec. 9, the club signed left-hander José Quintana to a two-year, $26 million deal.
New York has also signed reliever David Robertson (one year, $10 million), outfielder Brandon Nimmo (eight years, $162 million), right-hander Kodai Senga (five years, $75 million), reliever Adam Ottavino (two years, $14.5 million) and outfielder Tommy Pham (one year, $6 million) this offseason.
The McNeil deal brings New York's projected 2023 payroll with tax to around $467 million, which would be an MLB record, according to Passan. The Mets previously set the luxury tax record last season with a $299.8 million payroll.
McNeil has been a key cog in the Mets' lineup since making his debut in 2018. He has emerged as one of the best hitters in baseball and put together the best season of his career in 2022, slashing .326/.382/.454 with nine home runs and 62 RBI in 148 games en route to winning the National League batting title, a Silver Slugger award and an All-Star Game selection.
In his five seasons, the 30-year-old is slashing .307/.370/.458, which is quite remarkable.
Although the Mets have made numerous additions this offseason, look for McNeil to continue bouncing around the outfield corners and second base, which is where he made his most appearances in 2022, this coming season as New York will look to balance out the lineup with the lefty bat.