In a significant roster shake-up, the New York Mets have traded veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil to the Oakland Athletics. The move follows multiple reports of a strained relationship and repeated clashes between McNeil and the team's star shortstop, Francisco Lindor, during their tenure together in Queens.
The Deal and Its Financial Implications
The retooling Mets have acquired 17-year-old minor league right-handed pitcher Yordan Rodriguez in exchange for the 33-year-old McNeil. This transaction leaves pitcher David Peterson, who debuted in 2020, as the longest-tenured player on the New York roster. Should Peterson also be traded, that distinction would fall to Lindor, who joined the Mets before the 2021 season.
Financially, the Mets have agreed to send up to $7.75 million to the Athletics to offset a portion of the $17.75 million remaining on McNeil's contract. McNeil's $50 million, four-year deal includes a $15.75 million salary for the upcoming season and a $15.75 million team option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. The initial payment to Oakland is $5.75 million, with a conditional additional $2 million due if McNeil's 2027 option is declined.
A History of Reported Clubhouse Tension
This trade marks the latest departure of a key player from a Mets team that underperformed in the recent season, failing to reach the playoffs despite boasting the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball. McNeil follows Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz out of the door.
Reports suggest clubhouse dynamics played a role. According to sports radio icon Mike Francesa, Brandon Nimmo was traded to Texas earlier this offseason after political differences with Francisco Lindor, specifically quarrelling over former President Donald Trump. Francesa did not reveal which player supported Trump.
The discord with McNeil appears more prolonged. The New York Post reported in November that McNeil and Lindor had a heated argument over a defensive miscue during the 2025 season. This echoed a previous, more serious incident from four years earlier, in which the Post alleged Lindor grabbed McNeil by the throat during a physical altercation.
Both players later joked the skirmish was about whether a rat or a raccoon had entered the tunnel between the dugout and clubhouse, a story Mets officials refused to confirm. Then-manager Luis Rojas commented on the pair's infield communication issues in May 2021, noting several instances where poor coordination allowed balls to get through.
McNeil's Legacy and the Mets' New Direction
Jeff McNeil, who turns 34 in April, spent his entire professional career with the Mets organisation after being selected in the 12th round of the 2013 draft. He debuted in 2018 and won the NL batting title in 2022 with a .326 average, earning his second All-Star selection. This past season, he hit .243 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 122 games after recovering from a strained right oblique.
The young pitcher acquired in the deal, Yordan Rodriguez, turns 18 on 29 January. He signed with the Athletics for a $400,000 bonus last January and posted a 2.93 ERA in the Dominican Summer League. To make room for McNeil, Oakland designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment.
The Mets have been active this offseason, adding closer Devin Williams, infielder Jorge Polanco, Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien, and reliever Luke Weaver, signalling a clear intent to move on from the recent past and rebuild a cohesive unit.
