By Adeniyi Precious 
The New York Mets and Yankees could make a deal that would help both teams fill some major gaps. The Mets are in need of a starting pitcher to round out their rotation after signing some new arms, and the Yankees are looking to get rid of Marcus Stroman’s contract. Stroman didn’t have the best year at Yankee Stadium, struggling with a 5.31 ERA at home while performing much better on the road. A return to the Mets might be just what he needs to bounce back, especially since he’s had great success with them before.
Stroman’s contract is a bit of a headache, with over $36 million owed for the next two years, but the Yankees might be willing to cover part of it to get rid of him. Meanwhile, the Yankees are looking for a new infielder to replace Gleyber Torres, and the Mets have a ton of infield talent. They have guys like Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, and Mark Vientos, but one player isn’t doing great at Citi Field—Jeff McNeil. That could make a trade between the two teams a perfect match.
McNeil has had a rough 2024 season, especially at home, where he hit just .199. But on the road, he was solid, posting a .279 average with 10 home runs. If he moves to Yankee Stadium, his left-handed pull hitting could turn him into a 20+ home run hitter. The Yankees would love to add him to their lineup because he’s a contact hitter who rarely strikes out, which is a good balance to their strikeout-heavy, power-hitting order.
McNeil is owed $15.75 million over the next two years, so swapping him for Stroman could help offset that salary. Plus, the Mets would also get a promising outfield prospect in Everson Pereira, who had a solid minor league run before injuries slowed him down. Pereira had Tommy John surgery but should be back for the 2025 season and could add some depth to the Mets’ outfield.
This trade would benefit both teams in a big way and give the Mets some pitching help while providing the Yankees with a much-needed infielder.