Mets’ Jeff McNeil trade called “a sh*t show” by rival executive amid clubhouse shake-up

One of the New York Mets' longest-tenured players parted ways with the team on Monday, as Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics in exchange for teenage pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez.

McNeil's departure adds to a long list of stalwarts that have already left the club this winter, with Brandon Nimmo being traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange of Marcus Semien, while Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz signed elsewhere in free agency.

Per reports, issues in the clubhouse with Francisco Lindor played a significant role in McNeil's exit. Ever since Lindor joined the team in 2021, the two haven't exactly been the best of friends, and they allegedly engaged in a verbal spat over a missed defensive play in November.

Speaking to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, an unnamed rival executive bluntly stated that Jeff McNeil's trade indicates just how bad things in the Mets' clubhouse are.

"What they’ve done tells you how big a s— show their clubhouse was. The guessing is over. It was a disaster," a rival executive said.

Cleveland Guardians v New York Mets - Source: Getty

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"I knew it was a possibility" - Jeff McNeil reveals how he learned of his trade, looks forward to new chapter with the Athletics

On Tuesday, Jeff McNeil told insider Dan Bartels of the New York Post about how exactly he learned he was about to be traded.

"I had a text from (New York Mets president of baseball operations) [David] Stearns going, ‘Hey, please give me call… I was like, ‘I 100% just got traded.’ I knew it was a possibility," McNeil said. "I took that phone call. It was a quick phone call. I thanked him for everything and he thanked me for everything.”

Further, he expressed his excitement for the future, claiming he "couldn't be happier" with his move to the Athletics.

"It seems like the Mets are going in a different direction, so I knew it was a possibility. I'm super excited to be an A now," McNeil added. "Definitely a crazy day yesterday, but I couldn't be happier."

Jeff McNeil will make his first appearance in an Athletics uniform when spring training begins in February 2026.

Edited by Raghav Mehta