New York sports radio legend reveals alleged reasons for Mets' clubhouse issues during 2025 season

A report from late November suggested that the New York Mets' collapse during the 2025 season occurred, in part, because clubhouse issues impacted the club throughout the campaign.

During the latest edition of his podcast, New York sports radio legend Mike Francesa revealed more information about what supposedly went wrong for the Mets this past summer. 

Why Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto seemingly weren't close during 2025 season

Part of the previously mentioned report from Mike Puma of the New York Post said that relations between Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Juan Soto "were chilly following the latter’s arrival on a record $765M contract." As shared by NJ Advance Media, Francesa said that Lindor and Soto were never as "buddy-buddy" as were Soto and Yankees captain Aaron Judge during their one season spent as teammates (2024). 

"Soto loved Judge," Francesa explained. "Judge went out of his way to treat Soto very well in every way. He was a wonderful teammate. Soto loved Judge." 

Francesa added that his "understanding is Lindor and Soto got off on the wrong foot when Lindor did not call [Soto] and welcome him to the team" in December 2024. For what it's worth, Lindor said at that time that he had reached out to Soto to say congratulations on signing a massive deal with the Mets. 

Were Mets issues in 2025 linked with President Trump?

Pockets of Mets fans and others were stunned when the Amazins traded longtime outfielder and homegrown talent Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien in November. Per NJ Advance Media, Francesa hinted that the trade may have occurred due to disagreements related to President Donald Trump.

"The Nimmo-Lindor thing, my understanding, was political. Had to do with Trump," Francesa said. "One side liked Trump, one side didn’t like Trump. ...That’s my understanding. It started over Trump. As crazy as that sounds, crazier things have happened." 

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has taken a sledgehammer to the team's roster by trading Nimmo and by allowing closer Edwin Diaz and first baseman Pete Alonso to sign elsewhere in free agency. If nothing else, at least Soto and Lindor will likely have to eventually respond to Francesa's claims either before or after Mets players report for spring training early next year.