The New York Mets and New York Yankees may play in the same city, but they aren’t always bitter rivals. However, in 2025, hostility is at an all-time high.

This offseason, the Mets stole superstar outfielder Juan Soto straight from the Yankees’ roster after the Bronx Bombers made their first World Series appearance in 15 years. Expect record decibel levels as Soto is booed upon his return to Yankee Stadium.

But while fans of both teams couldn’t be more at odds with one another, in a Major League Baseball front office, business is still business. When it comes to a deal that makes sense for both sides, the two executives will happily pull the trigger.

Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa of Bleeding Yankee Blue suggested such a trade in a recent column. Bellezza-Ochoa floated the idea that the Yankees should send two-time All-Star starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to the Mets for second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil.

“It’s no secret the Yankees want to get rid of Marcus Stroman,” Bellezza-Ochoa wrote. “It’s easy to see that he’s the sixth-best rotation option, and the Yankees simply don’t need him … and especially not at the $18 million price tag.”

“The Mets, on the other hand, are really trying to strengthen their starting rotation. Right now, that’s a major weak point on their roster…McNeil can play second, third or left field and those are all areas the Yankees could use some extra help.

McNeil has been a productive member of the Mets over the past seven years, accumulating 20.8 BWAR and winning a batting title in 2022. But he hasn’t been the same hitter in the two years since and with young players Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña, McNeil is currently struggling for playing time and could be expendable at this moment.

Stroman, meanwhile, is coming off a down year, but he’s guaranteed to eat up innings. He threw 154 2/3 frames for the Yankees last season. His $37 million contract includes a vesting option for 2026 if he throws 140 or more innings this year, but that may not be a bad thing for the Mets.

Would the two sides agree on this specific proposal? That remains to be seen, but the logic behind it isn’t hard to understand.

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