Jeff McNeil is still here, but he’s not who we think he is

Tomás Nido was released. Drew Smith was granted free agency. Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers. But against all odds, Jeff McNeil still remains slotted into the first, second, or third spot on nearly half the Mets’ positional depth chart for 2026.

McNeil, nicknamed “The Squirrel” for his trademark scrappy, aggressive approach, is now somehow the longest-tenured Met. It’s a title which seems to fit oddly on a player whose name has populated trade rumors for what feels like his entire career. In contrast with the fellow pesky, homegrown, left-handed hitting Nimmo, McNeil’s time with the Mets has taken an ever-twisting trajectory. He’s been an infielder, an outfielder, a batting champion, a bottom-of-the-order bat, an overlooked draft pick, a breakout rookie, an offseason signing