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Jeff McNeil is the latest longtime New York Met to find himself in a new home for the 2026 season. McNeil, who spent eight seasons with the Mets, has been traded to the Athletics for pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez. The Mets are also sending $5.75 million to bring McNeil’s 2026 salary down to $10 million. McNeil joins Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz as Mets to sign or be traded elsewhere so far this offseason.
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McNeil, 33, is set to make $15.75 million in 2026. Also, there’s a club option on him for the following season at the same figure. Since he was traded, McNeil is set to receive a one-time, $500,000 assignment bonus, a league source said.
When the Mets acquired second baseman Marcus Semien in a trade with the Texas Rangers for Nimmo, McNeil became more expendable. Even before the trade in late November, however, New York fielded interest from other teams on McNeil.
McNeil underwent a minor procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome after last season. The issue popped up in the second half and may have contributed to his struggles in September. He is expected to be a full participant in spring training.
McNeil’s OPS stood at .799 at the end of August, before he slumped through most of September and finished with a .746 mark.
McNeil’s value is in his versatility and offense. A two-time All-Star and batting champion in 2022, McNeil hit 12 home runs with a .243/.335/.411 slash line last season while making appearances at second base (his main position), center field, left field, right field and first base. McNeil had never played center field on a part-time basis before 2025.
McNeil is a decent defender, but the Mets were intent on upgrading the right side of their infield defensively, something they accomplished by adding Semien. Among the 27 players with at least 500 innings at second base, McNeil’s fielding run value ranked No. 10.
Rodriguez, 17, signed with the Athletics out of Cuba on Jan. 15 and spent his pro debut season in the Dominican Summer League. He allowed five runs in 15 1/3 innings, striking out 20 and walking eight. Rodriguez received a $400,000 bonus when he signed with the A’s.
McNeil joins an A’s team that had been looking for an upgrade at second base after a 2025 season that saw their second basemen combine for -1.6 WAR. He joins an infield that also includes first baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson, who finished 1-2 in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting. The A’s still have a need at third base, as their third basemen combined for -2.3 WAR in 2025.