New York Mets trade Jeff McNeil to Athletics after reported clashes with $341m star Francisco Lindor

The New York Mets unloaded veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil to the Athletics after reports he and star shortstop Francisco Lindor repeatedly clashed during their time together in Queens.

The retooling Mets acquired 17-year-old minor league right-hander Yordan Rodriguez in a deal that left pitcher David Peterson as New York’s longest-tenured player. New York will send up to $7.75 million to the A’s to offset some of the $17.75 million remaining on McNeil’s $50 million, four-year contract.

McNeil follows Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz in leaving the underperforming Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year despite the second-highest payroll in the majors behind the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nimmo reportedly had political differences with Lindor before being traded to Texas earlier this offseason, according to sports radio icon Mike Francesa, who claimed the two had quarreled over President Donald Trump. Neither the players’ agents nor the team responded to the Daily Mail’s request for comment at the time. 

Previously, the New York Post reported in November that McNeil and Lindor also got into a heated argument over a defensive miscue during the 2025 season, echoing a previous disagreement between the two. 

Four years earlier, the two got into a physical altercation in which Lindor allegedly grabbed McNeil by the throat, according to the Post. Neither player would acknowledge the skirmish other than to joke that they were arguing over whether a rat or raccoon had wandered into the tunnel between the dugout and the clubhouse.

Mets officials refused to confirm the rat/raccoon story and then-team manager Luis Rojas complained about infield communication between McNeil and Lindor, the latter of whom had just signed a 10-year, $341million extension. 

‘The communication on ground balls is something that Francisco is very active on, and McNeil is as well,’ Rojas told reporters in May of 2021. ‘One gets in agreement with the other, either someone’s going to cut in front or another is going to behind, and that’s how it should be. It’s happened a couple times where they both go into the same lane and they have to put on the brakes and the ball gets through.’

McNeil, who turns 34 in April, was selected by New York in the 12th round of the 2013 amateur draft from Long Beach State and had spent his entire professional career with the organization. He made his Mets debut in 2018 and won the big league batting title with a .326 average in 2022, when he was picked for his second NL All-Star team.

He hit .243 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 122 games this year, when he made his season debut on April 25 after recovering from a strained right oblique.

McNeil has a $15.75 million salary next year as part of a deal that includes a $15.75 million team option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. The Mets will send the A’s $5.75 million with another $2 million payment conditionally included if McNeil’s option is declined.

Rodriguez, who turns 18 on January 29, signed with the A’s for a $400,000 bonus in January and went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in one start and seven relief appearances for the Dominican Summer League A’s. He struck out 20 and walked eight in 15 1/3 innings.

Peterson made his Mets debut in 2020. If he is traded, New York’s longest-tenured player would be shortstop Francisco Lindor, acquired before the 2021 season.

New York has added closer Devin Williams, infielder Jorge Polanco, Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien and reliever Luke Weaver this offseason.

To open a roster spot for McNeil, the A’s designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment.