#jeff-mcneil

#jeff-mcneil

The current Toronto Blue Jays offseason appears to be centered around whether the Blue Jays can re-sign Bo Bichette, or if they can trade for Ketel Marte to address their infield heading into the 2026 season. After all, there aren't too many infielders that could produce at such an elite rate as both players have done throughout their careers. But what happens if the Blue Jays fails to get Bichette or Marte this offseason?

McNeil is entering the final guaranteed season of the four-year, $50MM extension he signed during the 2023-24 offseason. He's set for a $15.75MM salary and guaranteed a $2MM buyout on a matching club option for the '27 season. It's essentially a one-year, $17.75MM commitment. (An acquiring team would also owe him a $500K assignment bonus.) That's more than he'd get on the open market coming off a .243/.335/.411 line and heading into his age-34 season. Something like a two-year deal in the $18-20MM range would be reasonable, but he wouldn't command that kind of money on a one-year term.