Padres shouldn’t rule out revisiting Mets trade for versatile lineup piece

The Padres, in all likelihood, will lose out on two key infielders in Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn, as both have officially hit free agency. While Jake Cronenworth will remain, his versatility could open the door for A.J. Preller to make a move for an infielder that he checked in on three years ago.

In 2022, the Padres checked in on New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil, but nothing came of it. At the time, McNeil’s trade value was at an all-time high, as he won the league batting title with a .326 average. His performance also earned him an All-Star selection, a Silver Slugger Award, and a 15th-place finish in National League MVP voting.

Padres could circle back to Mets on Jeff McNeil trade talks

With his value exceptionally high, Preller chose to lay off organizing a trade package for McNeil. Three years later, the Mets are fielding offers on the 33-year-old, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

With vacant positions among their infield, it would be wise for Preller to revisit the same trade idea from three years ago. McNeil is coming off a down season by his standards, slashing .243/.335/.411 with a 109 OPS+. He is set to earn $15.5 million in 2026.

If Preller were to follow through on this move, it would mean that Jake Cronenworth would either need to be traded or moved back to first base. In 2025, Cronenworth was overshadowed by playmakers such as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, but he put together a solid campaign.

A move for McNeil wouldn’t be a terrible alternative if Arráez were to leave, as he is able to get on base. While there are certainly cheaper options with only $47 million in available payroll, it’s not like he’ll demand all that much. This is certainly an intriguing option as we head deeper into the offseason.