Mets Reportedly Trade Jeff McNeil to A's, Who Are Top MLB Trade Candidates Available?
The New York Mets have been one of the most active teams this winter, and their offseason fire sale continued on Monday.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Mets are trading second baseman Jeff McNeil to the Athletics.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos remain the top trade candidates available now that McNeil is off the board.
McNeil is yet another homegrown talent to be departing the Mets this offseason. The team also traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers earlier this winter and lost star first baseman Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles in free agency. Star closer Edwin Diaz also left to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
To make up for their losses, the Mets signed versatile infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract earlier this month. He has experience playing at first, second and third base, though he recently said that he expects his primary position to be first base in 2026.
Despite such a flurry of moves already, the Mets could continue to pursue major additions through the trade market as they try to build a roster worthy of World Series contention.
Skubal is the first pitcher since former Mets ace Jacob deGrom to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards, but Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said earlier this month that he's not "untouchable." Marte, Robert and Castellanos are all veteran sluggers who can make a difference in any lineup.
It will be interesting to see how the Mets continue to reload as they try to bounce back from a disappointing finish to the 2025 season.
