Mets Continue to Break up Core, Send Jeff McNeil to Athletics
On Monday, the Mets furthered the demolition of their core, trading Jeff McNeil to the Athletics. Here's what the deal means for both sides.
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For the fourth time in a month, the New York Mets have moved on from part of their most-tenured core.
After trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers and watching Edwin Diaz (Dodgers) and Pete Alonso (Orioles) walk in free agency on consecutive days, New York has sent utilityman Jeff McNeil to the Athletics.
In exchange, the Mets are receiving pitcher Yordan Rodriguez, a 17-year-old right-hander who spent 2025 in rookie ball. During his brief professional stint this past season, Rodriguez pitched to a 2.93 ERA in 15 ⅓ innings in the Dominican Summer League and struck out 20 batters.
With one more year guaranteed on McNeil’s contract at $15.75 million, the Mets are sending $5.75 million to the Athletics to help cover his salary. Additionally, if the A’s were to choose not to exercise his 2027 club option, New York will pay his $2 million buyout.
Following Nimmo’s departure in late November, McNeil became the longest-tenured Met, as he made his big-league debut in August 2018. Now, after the quartet of exits from Queens, starting pitcher David Peterson holds that distinction.
The trade of McNeil is not the same gutpunch as Nimmo, Diaz and Alonso, as struggles in recent years created his fair share of enemies within the fanbase. Nonetheless, his presence in the lineup for nearly a decade cannot be overlooked.
Jeff McNeil’s Time in New York Comes to an End
In eight seasons in Queens, McNeil put himself top 10 in Mets’ franchise history in both doubles and batting average, was named to two All-Star teams, won a Silver Slugger award, and received down-ballot votes for both Rookie of the Year (2018) and MVP (2022).
Coming out of Long Beach State in 2013, McNeil was never a highly-touted prospect, as he was selected in the 12th round that year. However, a big year in the minors in ‘18 and the ability to play all over the diamond got him called up to the big leagues in August.
Almost symbolically, he lined a single on the first pitch he saw in the show.
A contact-driven slap hitter — at least through the 2024 All-Star break — McNeil hit .298 through the end of 2023. Even after a pair of seasons where McNeil’s batting average fell as he prioritized pulling the ball with slug, he is still a .284 career hitter and reaches base at a .351 clip.
While not the overall hitter he once was, admittedly, that is a tough bar to eclipse.
In 2019, he hit .318 with a career-high 23 home runs and a .916 OPS. He hit over .300 again in 2020 but struggled with injuries in 2021. McNeil silenced any “washed” claims in 2022, as he was a starter at second base in the Midsummer Classic and won the MLB batting title (.326).
The days of his high batting average are gone, but his value still exists. In the field, he has logged significant time at both corner outfield spots, second and third base. In 2025, at 33 years old, McNeil took on the challenge of learning center field and handled it with relative success. At points during the year, he was even the Mets’ best option at the position.
After Alonso’s departure, he was even floated as an option to log time at first base for the Mets in 2026.
Ultimately, though, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns felt as though he could free up a roster spot with McNeil on the trade block.
If nothing else, this gives McNeil a chance for a fresh start. Rumors of internal problems with him and shortstop Francisco Lindor have swirled since 2021. Plus, the past two seasons were frustrating for McNeil, as he hit a combined .241 with a .718 OPS and dealt with numerous injuries. But even in the midst of offensive struggles, his strikeout percentage never went above 15% over the past two years.
Playing his home games in Sacramento should also lend itself nicely to improved offensive production. Had McNeil played his home games at Sutter Health Park, he likely would have hit roughly 16 home runs, rather than 12.
McNeil and the Athletics seemed like a strong fit all along, especially on a young team that lacks a veteran presence. This move allows the California-native to return to his home state and enter a lineup that was injected with youth in 2025.
Most notably, shortstop Jacob Wilson, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, and first baseman Nick Kurtz headline an up-and-coming offensive group. McNeil will likely see significant time at second base after the struggles of Zack Gelof last year, but can also play a corner outfield spot should one be available.
For New York, this is not Stearns simply dumping McNeil to shake up the core. The Mets entered the offseason with a glut of infielders that needed to be broken up, and they only augmented that issue with the acquisitions of Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco, two infielders.
Straight up, McNeil did not have a spot on the roster unless in a corner outfield role, and with top prospect Carson Benge in serious consideration for an Opening Day job in either left or center, McNeil was the odd man out.
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An aspiring sportswriter, George Caratzas' life is centered around the diamond. Based in the New York metro area, he covers the New York Mets for Just…