NEW YORK -- Returning to Citi Field on Friday for the first time as a member of the opposition, A’s second baseman Jeff McNeil put to rest any tension of a rift between him and Francisco Lindor when the two were Mets teammates.
Asked directly about a New York Post report that Lindor verbally accosted McNeil following a June 20, 2025, game in Philadelphia, McNeil responded: “No, no, we didn’t get into a fight. We just had a little argument. It was no big deal.”
McNeil added that he didn’t believe the incident, nor his relationship with Lindor, had any impact on the Mets’ decision to trade him in December for Minor League pitcher Yordan Rodriguez. The reported incident was the second between McNeil and Lindor, who also had an altercation early in their first year as teammates.
“I think he’s a great guy, a good person, and I enjoyed my time playing with him and wish him all the best,” McNeil said. “He’s a great baseball player, one of the best shortstops to ever do it. Best of luck to him in the rest of his career. It was fun playing with him.”
Throughout an eight-minute interview in the visiting dugout, McNeil recalled his time with the Mets fondly. Although his name was a mainstay in trade rumors for much of that tenure, McNeil was somewhat surprised when a deal actually occurred. That’s largely because Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns called him after trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers in November to say he wanted McNeil to play the outfield in 2026.
Ultimately, that did not come to pass. Over the span of three months, the Mets shed McNeil, Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz from their roster, shaking up their longtime core. Lindor, who arrived in 2021, is now the Mets’ longest tenured position player.
“I felt like we had a pretty good team,” McNeil said. “We were one win away from being in the postseason last year, and that was tough. But it’s business. David’s over there trying to put the best team on the field as possible, and that’s what he saw fit.”
Asked if he expected a warm reception from the Citi Field crowd, McNeil said he hoped so. Fans proceeded to give him an extended standing ovation prior to his first at-bat.
“I feel like I’ve given so much to this organization,” he said. “I got drafted in 2013. I was here for 12 years, in the big leagues for seven. So I hope the fans appreciate that. I played hard and enjoyed my time here.”