Clearing House: Mets Trade All Star McNeil to Sacramento

The New York Mets traded veteran infielder Jeff McNeil to the Oakland Athletics, continuing a sweeping offseason overhaul following another disappointing season that ended outside the playoff picture despite one of baseball’s highest payrolls.

In return, the Mets received 17-year-old right-handed pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez. New York will also send up to $7.75 million to the Athletics to offset part of the $17.75 million remaining on McNeil’s contract, which runs through 2026 and includes a 2027 team option.

The move leaves left-hander David Peterson as the Mets’ longest-tenured player and further dismantles a core that once defined the team. This offseason, New York has already moved on from Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz, signaling a clear shift under baseball operations president David Stearns.

McNeil, who turns 34 in April, was drafted by the Mets in the 12th round in 2013 and spent his entire professional career with the organization. He debuted in 2018 and emerged as one of the league’s most versatile hitters, winning the National League batting title in 2022 with a .326 average and earning two All-Star selections.

His production dipped in 2025, as he hit .243 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 122 games after missing time early in the season with an oblique injury. With the Mets acquiring Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien and adding Jorge Polanco, McNeil’s role became increasingly unclear.

The trade also closes the book on a long-simmering clubhouse issue. McNeil was involved in multiple reported disputes with star shortstop Francisco Lindor over the years, including a heated argument during the 2025 season and an earlier confrontation in 2021. While the team downplayed those incidents publicly, internal tension between infield leaders was a recurring theme.

For Oakland, McNeil adds a proven major league bat and defensive flexibility as the franchise continues its rebuild. Rodriguez, the prospect heading to New York, signed with the Athletics earlier this year and posted a 2.93 ERA across eight appearances in the Dominican Summer League, striking out 20 batters in just over 15 innings.

The Mets’ offseason activity has been extensive. In addition to Semien and Polanco, the team has added relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver as it attempts to reshape a roster that fell short of expectations.

The McNeil trade underscores a clear message from the front office: familiarity and past success will not stand in the way of reshaping the club’s future.