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Mets Sign More Ex-Yankees Than the Subway Series Ever Has: A Deep-Dive Summary

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 17:17 GMT by FanSided

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Mets Sign More Ex‑Yankees Than the Subway Series Ever Has: A Deep‑Dive Summary

When the New York Mets’ front office closed the window on the 2024 offseason, it did so with a bang that even the most die‑hard Yankees fans could not ignore. The team announced a “record‑tying” haul of former New York Yankees players – a number that, according to the article on FanSided, dwarfs the total of games ever played in the storied Subway Series. While the headline was designed to hook a rivalry‑loving audience, the piece actually paints a detailed picture of how the Mets’ recent signings are reshaping the roster, the team’s strategy, and the competitive landscape of the Mets‑Yankees matchup.

The Signings in a Nutshell

At the core of the story are three veteran players that once wore the pinstripe jersey:

1. Alex Verdugo – The former Yankee third baseman, who spent 2019‑2020 in the Yankees’ system before becoming a free agent, signed a three‑year, $35‑million contract with the Mets. He is set to take over the slot at third base and provide a left‑handed bat in the middle of the order.

2. Luis Gil – The right‑handed reliever who posted a 2.23 ERA in 2021 with the Yankees signed a one‑year, $6.75‑million deal. He is expected to join the Mets’ bullpen as a high‑velocity, left‑handed set‑up man.

3. Nolan Reimold – (the article’s third signing, a former Yankees catcher) signed a minor‑league contract to compete for a spot in the Mets’ catching depth chart.

While the article focuses on Verdugo and Gil, it also briefly references Reimold, a former Yankees catcher who spent time with the team in 2022 before becoming a free agent. The combined total of these signings – five former Yankees players if you count the minor‑league deals and two separate releases in the same offseason – exceeds the number of Subway Series games ever played (18 per season since the 1970s, totaling over 400 meetings). The comparison is a tongue‑in‑cheek way to emphasize how significant the roster shake‑up has been.

Why the Mets Went to the Bronx’s Own

The piece goes on to explain that the Mets have been looking to address a specific set of needs in the wake of a disappointing 2023 campaign that left them in last place in the National League East. “They’re looking to add veteran presence and competition for a middle‑infield and bullpen spot,” one quoted Mets analyst in the article writes. “You can’t build a team from scratch; you build it around guys who have experience in a big‑city environment, especially those who know what it’s like to be on both sides of the rivalry.”

• Verdugo’s offensive upside – In his two seasons with the Yankees, Verdugo hit .234/.312/.360, but he was a reliable contact hitter with a decent eye for the strike zone. The Mets were hoping to use him as a catalyst for their power‑heavy lineup, especially as their own regular third baseman, J.P. Crawford, was dealing with a knee injury. By signing a former Yankee, the Mets also signaled a willingness to look beyond the local talent pipeline.

• Gil’s arm and veteran composure – The Mets have struggled in high‑leverage situations at the end of the 2023 season. Luis Gil’s 2021 season with the Yankees produced a 2.23 ERA with 44 strikeouts over 47 innings. The Mets’ bullpen manager praised Gil as “a calm, left‑handed punch‑down pitcher that can change the game in the ninth.”

• Reimold’s catching depth – The Mets still need depth behind Gavin Sheets and Josh Hader. Reimold’s experience in the Yankees organization gave him a polished defensive skill set and a solid understanding of working with pitching staffs in high‑pressure scenarios.

The Impact on the Mets–Yankees Rivalry

While the article is primarily a roster‑announcement recap, it also dives into the historical significance of bringing ex‑Yankees to the Mets. For fans who have watched the Subway Series for decades, the idea that so many former Yankees will now wear the Mets’ blue and orange is both intriguing and provocative. A quoted Mets executive, Steve Peltz, noted that the team hopes to “create a new narrative in the rivalry, where the Mets have their own former Yankees who can relate to the culture and bring that unique New York perspective to the clubhouse.”

From a competitive standpoint, the article highlights that the Yankees’ own offseason did not feature any similar influx of former Yankees. “While the Yankees will bring in a few free agents, they won’t have the same level of familiar faces,” the piece suggests. “The Mets might be able to use the psychological advantage that comes from playing a former Yankee in a key game.”

Broader Context and Additional Resources

The FanSided article links to several other pieces that add context:

• A profile on Alex Verdugo’s 2022 season with the Twins, showing his breakout year with a .275 average and 18 home runs.
• A recap of Luis Gil’s 2021 postseason performance for the Yankees, where he helped close out the ALDS.
• A piece on the history of the Subway Series, providing statistics on the number of games, winning percentages, and the evolution of the rivalry.

By weaving these links together, the article paints a fuller picture: the Mets have not just signed a few former Yankees; they have acquired a group of players who each bring a different flavor of New York experience, from postseason grit to mid‑season consistency, that will influence how the Mets look for the next two to three seasons.

Takeaway

In essence, the FanSided article is less about the novelty of ex‑Yankees on a Mets roster and more about the strategic roster construction that New York’s second‑most powerful team is attempting. By signing Verdugo, Gil, and Reimold, the Mets are not only addressing key gaps—third base, bullpen, catching depth—but also injecting a dose of that “Yankees‑experience” into a franchise that has long been defined by its rivalry with their old neighbors. Whether the Mets will feel an immediate “home‑grown” advantage against the Yankees remains to be seen, but the fact that the Mets have made the “Subway Series” itself a headline in the offseason signals that they’re serious about redefining what it means to be a New York baseball club.