Part 2/7:
McNeil’s contract appears bloated following two subpar seasons. Originally signed with the intention of buying out his arbitration years, he was set to become a free agent. After an impressive 2022 season where he was an All-Star, earning a batting title with a remarkable .326 batting average, both the Mets organization and fans had high hopes. However, the decision to extend McNeil’s contract, now totaling $50 million over five years, has raised concerns, especially since his performance has noticeably dipped since that peak.