NEW YORK — Paul Blackburn spent time in both New York clubhouses during the 2025 season. What he saw on each side of town could not have been more different. The veteran pitcher’s account paints a damning picture of the Mets organization. And it validates what rival executives have been saying for weeks.
Blackburn re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $2 million deal in late December. His decision tells you everything you need to know about where he feels most comfortable. His words tell you even more.
Blackburn delivers a blunt verdict on the two clubhouses
In an exclusive interview with Dan Martin of the New York Post, Blackburn did not hold back when asked about the difference between the Yankees and Mets.
“When I showed up to the Yankees, it was very noticeable how everyone was pulling on the same rope,” Blackburn said. “Guys seemed to really like each other and fight for each other. There was a lot of chemistry in the clubhouse. That’s not how it was with the Mets.”
Blackburn also noted a “different vibe” in the Bronx compared to what he experienced in Queens. The 32-year-old spent parts of two seasons with the Mets before the team released him in August 2025. The Yankees signed him two days later.
An MLB executive calls the Mets clubhouse a disaster
Blackburn’s comments echo what league insiders have been saying privately for months. One rival executive did not mince words when speaking to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.
“What they’ve done tells you how big a s–t show their clubhouse was,” the executive said. “The guessing is over. It was a disaster.”
A National League scout told the same reporters that president of baseball operations David Stearns was clearly trying to change the culture. Someone within the Mets organization admitted as much.
“We definitely tidied things up in our house,” that person said. “Now it is time to do more rebuilding.”
The Lindor factor created friction in Queens
Reports throughout the offseason have pointed to Francisco Lindor as a central figure in the clubhouse dysfunction. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the shortstop had a tense relationship with Juan Soto during the 2025 season.
“Soto is very businesslike. All business, no fluff,” a clubhouse source told Puma. “He wants to come to the yard and work his tail off and win games. He’s not into fashion or any of that stuff. Lindor is into that. It’s just two different personalities.”
Puma also reported that Lindor and Jeff McNeil had a heated confrontation after a defensive breakdown against the Phillies on June 20. The two had feuded before. In 2021, Lindor reportedly grabbed McNeil by the throat during a physical altercation.
Legendary radio host Mike Francesa added more context. He revealed that Lindor never called Soto to welcome him to the team after his $765 million signing in December 2024. That omission reportedly created a rift that never healed.
The contrast with the Yankees locker room stands out
Francesa noted how different Soto’s experience was in the Bronx during 2024. The slugger loved playing alongside Aaron Judge.
“My understanding is that Lindor and Soto was never buddy-buddy,” Francesa said. “It was never Soto and Judge. Soto loved Judge. Judge went out of his way to treat Soto very well, in every way. He was a wonderful teammate. Soto loved Judge.”
The Yankees finished 94-68 in 2025 and reached the ALDS before losing to the Blue Jays in four games. Despite the early exit, the clubhouse remained unified. Blackburn saw that firsthand during his time with the club.
The Mets collapse told the story on the field
Whatever was happening behind closed doors manifested in the standings. The Mets held the best record in baseball at 45-24 on June 12. Their playoff odds sat at 96.2 percent. They had a 5.5 game lead in the NL East.
Then everything fell apart. The Mets went 38-55 over their final 93 games. That was better than only four teams in baseball. They endured three separate losing streaks of seven or more games. They became only the third team in the Wild Card era to start 45-24 or better and miss the playoffs.
The Mets finished 83-79 and were eliminated on the final day of the season. A $340 million payroll produced nothing but heartbreak.
Stearns responds with a roster overhaul
The front office has taken a sledgehammer to the roster this winter. Pete Alonso signed with the Orioles. Edwin Diaz left for the Dodgers. Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers. Jeff McNeil was shipped to Oakland. When three longtime members of an organization leave after one underachieving season, it tells you something was broken.
The McNeil trade may have been specifically made with clubhouse dynamics in mind. Removing him from the equation gives Lindor a chance to mend fences with Soto and other teammates. But the onus is now on the shortstop to prove he can coexist with the players around him.
Blackburn chose to return to the Yankees for a reason. The culture in the Bronx is different. And until the Mets fix what is broken in Queens, free agents will take notice.
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