The New York Mets traded infielder Jeff McNeil to the Oakland Athletics on Monday in exchange for minor league right-hander Yordan Rodriguez and cash considerations. McNeil, a veteran of eight seasons with the Mets, brings experience and contact skills to a young A's lineup. The deal signals a roster overhaul for New York as they pivot toward prospects.
Jeff McNeil learned of his trade while on the 14th hole of a golf outing at TPC Monterey on Monday morning, receiving a text from Mets general manager David Stearns: “Hey, please give me call.” The 33-year-old, drafted by New York in 2013, had spent his entire eight-year big league career with the Mets before the deal, which sent him to Oakland for 17-year-old right-hander Yordan Rodriguez, who signed with the A's from Cuba in January for $400,000 and posted a 2.93 ERA in eight Dominican Summer League games.
The Athletics received $5.75 million from the Mets to offset McNeil's $15.75 million salary for 2026, with New York covering a $2 million buyout if his $15.75 million club option for 2027 is declined. To make room on the 40-man roster, Oakland designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment. A's general manager David Forst praised McNeil's fit: “I thought he was a really good fit in a lot of ways... bringing a lot of experience to our clubhouse.”
In 2025, McNeil hit .243 with 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .746 OPS in 122 games, posting 2.1 fWAR despite a down year marked by a low BABIP and thoracic outlet syndrome, for which he underwent a minor offseason procedure. “I had an extremely low [BABIP] this year... but I hit the ball really hard,” McNeil said. Now fully recovered, he enters spring training as Oakland's starting second baseman, partnering with shortstop Jacob Wilson to form a low-strikeout duo—McNeil fanned just 55 times in 462 plate appearances last season, while Wilson struck out 39 in 523.
McNeil expressed excitement about joining Oakland's rising core, including AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler. “It’s a super fun team to watch... I’m super excited to be a part of it,” he said via Zoom. The A's second basemen combined for -1.6 WAR in 2025, making McNeil a clear upgrade with his elite contact skills (11.9% strikeout rate) and versatility across second base, first base, and the outfield.
For the Mets, the trade marks a turning point in their offseason rebuild under Stearns, following the departures of Pete Alonso to Baltimore and Brandon Nimmo in a prior deal for Marcus Semien. New York eyes outfield and rotation additions without long-term commitments to aging players, relying on prospects like Carson Benge, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos to form a new core alongside Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.