The Mets Keep Adding Former Yankees

The Mets have made headlines again with the signing of relief pitcher Devin Williams, inking him to a three-year, $51 million deal on Monday. This move reflects a growing trend of crosstown rivals picking up players from AL East teams after they leave the Yankees.

Besides the well-publicized battle for Juan Soto in the 2024 offseason, it seems the Mets haven’t really engaged deeply in free agency against every player. However, since Steve Cohen took ownership before the 2021 season, the team has consistently attracted former Yankees.

Here’s a look at some players who’ve switched from the Bronx to Queens over the past five years.

Juan Soto (2025)

Juan Soto stands out on this list. The Yankees and Mets clashed over him before the 2025 season, ultimately leading to the Mets signing him to a jaw-dropping 15-year deal worth $800 million. Even though he spent just one season with the Yankees, his signing was significant for the Mets, marking a notable victory in their rivalry.

Clay Holmes (2025)

After a mixed stint as the Yankees’ closer for three and a half years, Holmes joined the Mets as a starting pitcher. His first year with the Mets went relatively well, recording a 3.53 ERA over 33 games. Still, he had some trouble pitching deep into games and often seemed to tire as they progressed.

Frankie Montas (2025)

Montas struggled during his time with the Yankees, playing in just nine games after being traded in 2022. He found little success in his second go-around in New York, posting a 6.28 ERA before needing season-ending surgery, leading the Mets to release him this offseason while he will miss all of 2026.

Carlos Mendoza (2024)

When it came time to choose a new manager following Buck Showalter’s tenure, the Mets hired Carlos Mendoza, who had been Aaron Boone’s bench coach for six years. Mendoza had spent much of that time as Boone’s right-hand man.

Also joining him was assistant pitching coach Desi Dorschel, who made the same switch from the Yankees to the Mets.

Luis Severino (2024)

Severino’s eight seasons with the Yankees ended on a rough note, finishing with a 6.65 ERA in 2023. However, he revived his career after signing a one-year deal with the Mets, where he started 31 games and achieved a 3.91 ERA, his best performance since 2018. This success led him to score a three-year, $67 million contract with the Athletics.

Harrison Bader (2024)

Bader, who came to the Yankees during the 2022 season, showed promise but struggled with injuries, ultimately missing the entire 2023 season. Despite a strong start after signing with the Mets in 2024, he again found playing time limited.

Lewis Torrens (2024)

Torrens never played with the Yankees before being lost in the Rule 5 Draft. He returned to the Yankees later and was traded to the Mets, where he became a reliable backup, working hard to prevent base thefts.

David Robertson (2023)

Robertson was a standout reliever for the Yankees from 2008 to 2014 before a few stints elsewhere. He rejoined the Yankees in 2018 but signed with the Mets during a tough 2023 season. Still, he contributed enough that the Mets considered him a prospect.

Gary Sanchez (2023)

This segment reflects Sanchez’s brief time with the Mets in 2023, where he appeared in just three games, hardly making an impression. Initially starting his career with much acclaim after joining the Yankees, he struggled to find his footing in his final years.

Buck Showalter (2022)

Although there are gaps, Showalter began his managerial career with the Yankees in 1992 but was let go before the team’s rise. He took a position with the Mets in 2022, guiding them to the playoffs that fall, only to see the team collapse the following season, leading to his dismissal in 2023.

Billy Epler (2022)

The Mets hired Billy Eppler as their general manager for the 2022 season. Previously a right-hand man to Brian Cashman with the Yankees, Eppler’s tenure with the Mets lasted just two years before he resigned due to rule violations regarding injured players.

Adam Ottavino (2022)

Ottavino, signed by the Yankees ahead of the 2019 season, had a promising start but faltered in the playoffs. He then made his way to the Mets in 2022, enjoying a successful season there. Remarkably, he returned to the Yankees for a short stint last season.

Honorable Mention: Robinson Cano (2019)

Even though Cano wasn’t traded to the Mets during Cohen’s ownership, he remains relevant in the team’s history. He was brought to the Mets by a previous GM ahead of the 2019 season, performing poorly until being moved in 2022.