NL batting champion Jeff McNeil agrees to $50M extension

NEW YORK — The squirrel has found his nut.

Jeff McNeil has agreed to a four-year, $50 million extension with the Mets, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The contract reportedly includes a fifth-year team option that could bring the deal to $63.75 million.

The 30-year-old slashed .326/.382/.454 with nine homers and 62 RBIs en route to his first-career NL batting title. McNeil received NL MVP votes as well in 2022.

The two-time All-Star was set to become a free agent after 2025, but GM Billy Eppler and company took a page out of their rival Atlanta Braves’ play book by extending their contact-hitting utility man years before he was set to hit the open market.

The Mets drafted McNeil in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB draft out of Cal State University. His first full season in the big leagues came in 2019 where he was also named to the NL All-Star team.