Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Newsletter Excerpt, December 30, 2025 -- "Jeff McNeil and the A's"

 

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The A’s get a player who plugs a massive hole for them. A’s second basemen hit .199/.267/.283 last year for a 53 wRC+, and they didn’t make up that value on defense. By FanGraphs WAR, they were 29th with a -1.8 mark, ahead of just the Rockies. Zack Gelof stalling out after his big half-season in 2023 created a hole, and neither Luis Urias nor Max Schuemann filled it. McNeil can play second base for a year until Leo De Vries pushes Jacob Wilson over there in 2027. McNeil hit .243/.335/.411 last year, and while the Mets diddled with him in the outfield, his best position is still second base, where he’s pretty much average.