NY Mets' offseason thievery from the Yankees goes beyond the 40-man roster

If you were expecting the New York Mets’ latest act of “thievery” from the New York Yankees to involve a headline-grabbing heist, you’re going to be disappointed.

This one’s quieter. And maybe that’s kind of the point.

While most fans obsess over the 40-man chessboard, the Mets have been poking around the margins of the Yankees’ organization and grabbing useful pieces anyway. The best example is left-hander Matt Turner, whom the Mets selected out of the Yankees’ system in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. 

Mets’ quiet raid of the Yankees is happening where nobody’s looking

The minor league aspect of Rule 5 isn't the same as the major league draft process which requires the player to stay on the big league roster all season or be offered back. The Triple-A phase of the rule is an inexpensive way to pick up a player's potential: MLB.com reported that there are no restrictions as to where a player may be assigned after being taken with a Rule 5 draft selection in the Triple-A phase, which costs $24,000. That's "I'll take my chances on that lottery ticket" at the cost of a good dinner.

Turner is also a perfect snapshot of how fast these depth plays can move. According to his MiLB transaction log, the Yankees signed him to a minor league deal on Dec. 5, 2025, and five days later the Mets purchased his contract via Rule 5 and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse.  That’s a pretty clean “thanks for the warmup, we’ll take it from here.”

The other move is even more classic “Stearns-ball”: the Mets signed Jose Rojas to a minor league deal, giving them another experienced utility option with an invite to major league camp. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported Rojas would get a spring invite and would be paid $820K (prorated) if he makes the roster. 

And if you need proof the Mets’ Yankees-adjacent “shopping spree” isn’t limited to Rule 5 fliers and minor-league depth, look at what just happened on the international market. On Dec. 20, the scene got loud again when Wandy Asigen — a top Dominican shortstop prospect in the upcoming international class — walked away from a verbal agreement with the Yankees and is now expected to sign with the Mets when the next international signing window opens Jan. 15, 2026.

Reports have the bonus in the $3.8 million range, which is a real, serious commitment. And a very Mets kind of flex because it’s a win that may not show up today, but absolutely can matter several years down the road.

It’s clear the Mets aren’t just building a roster for April. They’re building an organization that can survive July and August without turning every minor injury into a roster crisis. These are the kinds of moves that stock Triple-A with playable innings and functional at-bats — the “break glass in case of emergency” layer that good teams treat like oxygen.

And yes, it’s funny that some of that oxygen is coming out of the Yankees’ backyard. Not every rivalry jab has to come from the top shelf. Sometimes it’s just the Mets quietly walking out of the Bronx with a couple of extra tools in their bag — and calling it smart business.