"Many teams" have recently inquired about trading for Jeff McNeil, reports Tim Healey of Newsday, who says the Mets have so far resisted including McNeil in any serious trade discussions.
Among the players the Mets have had trade discussions about this offseason are Starling Marte, Josh Hader, and Carlos Correa.
According to SNY's Andy Martino, in order to get Marte, the Mets would likely need to part with a major league outfielder. As part of a deal for Hader, Martino has reported the Mets would likely need to surrender a player like J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith, or McNeil.
Right before the Mets completed the Edwin Diaz/Robinson Cano trade last offseason, it was reported that McNeil's name had been part of those talks, though Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said this past August that the Mets never seriously considered trading McNeil in that or any deal.
"Some of those reports are more about which team liked our players and which players were of high priority to them," Van Wagenen said. "McNeil, based on what he did last year and on what we needed in the lineup this year, continuing to try to create bat-to-ball contact as opposed to reliance solely on the home run -- it was something that we really never wanted to lose or give up in any deal this offseason."
McNeil has immense value due to his production, salary, and years of control. He also offers terrific versatility being able to play second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots.
He is under team control through the 2024 season and doesn't even hit arbitration until 2022.
Because of the above, the Mets -- as Van Wagenen has explained -- have very little interest in trading McNeil, who has hit .321/.383/.518 with 26 homers, 49 doubles, and seven triples over his first 196 career games spanning 2018 and 2019.