The writing was on the wall. The New York Mets continued the teardown of their 2025 roster on Monday by trading 2B/OF Jeff McNeil and cash to the Athletics. The Athletics will be sending minor league reliever Yordan Rodriguez to the Mets. The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Report: Mets Trade Jeff McNeil to Athletics
For McNeil, 2025 was a year of physical hurdles, positional shifts, and ultimately, a major career turning point. After a rocky season defined by injury and inconsistency, “The Flying Squirrel” is heading into 2026 in a completely new environment.
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
A’s receive: Jeff McNeil and $5.75 million (to help cover his $15.75 million salary; the Mets also would pay his $2 million buyout if his option isn’t exercised)
Mets receive: RHP Yordan Rodriguez
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2025
McNeil’s season was a “tale of two halves” heavily influenced by his health. He began the year on the injured list with a right oblique strain, making his debut in late April. While he showed flashes of his former batting-title self in June and August, he suffered a brutal late-season collapse, hitting just .187 in September. The decline in offense coincided with the Mets’ collapse to miss the postseason in 2025.
Despite the fluctuating average, McNeil remained one of the best “contact” hitters in the league, ranking in the 94th percentile for strikeout rate (11.9%). He also showcased his elite utility, even filling in for 28 starts in center field – a position he had rarely played previously – to help cover for team injuries.
McNeil is also a veteran presence that will help an up-and-coming Athletics clubhouse, as with a core centered around Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, and Jacob Wilson, a veteran presence was needed.
The Mets’ Return
The Mets will be receiving right-handed reliever Yordan Rodriguez from the Athletics in return for the salary dump of McNeil. The 17-year-old is still in Single-A and looked solid in a limited showing. In 2025, Rodriguez pitched for the DSL Athletics in the Dominican Summer League. Over eight appearances (including one start), he was highly efficient, posting a 2.93 ERA and a 1.239 WHIP across 15 1/3 innings. But most impressively, he demonstrated elite strikeout potential by racking up 20 strikeouts, averaging nearly 11.7 K/9. While the Athletics were careful with his workload due to his age, he showed a remarkable ability to limit damage, allowing only one home run and holding opponents to a .208 batting average.
The expectation is that the Mets will place Rodriguez with High-A Brooklyn to start the 2026 campaign, based on how well his 2025 debut went.
Main Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images