For a player switching sides in New York’s heated baseball rivalry, some mistakes are bigger than others. Newest Met Luke Weaver learned that the hard way.

With Luke Weaver finishing the season with a 3.62 ERA in 2025, the chances of him re-signing with the Yankees were always in doubt. But it wasn’t a problem for the New York Mets. The whole kerfuffle basically started when he showed up to camp with a Yankees duffel bag, sparking immediate controversy.

As he was signing baseballs for fans, one called him and remarked, “The Mets are better than the Yankees, you made the right choice!”

Weaver replied, smiling, “I’m going to strongly agree with you right now.”

This entire playful communication happened a week after Luke Weaver was spotted carrying the crosstown rival’s gear at Mets camp.

While many felt that he had not completely moved on from his old team, some analysts strongly criticized the whole matter.

New York radio broadcaster Michael Kay seemed pretty annoyed on his February 9 episode of The Michael Kay Show.

“The Mets gave him a two-year and $22 million contract, and he’s carrying his equipment in a Yankee bag. You’ve got the Yankees NY logo… I mean, show a little respect to your new organization. I mean, the Mets deserve better than that.”

Kay even suggested that Weaver could have easily called up his new team and asked them for an equipment bag “with blue and orange rather than the Yankees midnight blue and white” before coming to Port St. Lucie. But was it that easy for Luke?

“I understand why people are — I wouldn’t say an uproar, but why they’re talking about it. I get it. To your point, it’s very common to bring your old bad to your new team. They don’t first-class airmail a new bag, so I didn’t get a new bag from the Mets, like a duffle bag. I just didn’t really have anything to put my stuff in. Part of me is like, yeah, I don’t necessarily want to take the Yankees bag because I’m not a Yankee, but I know this is just a normal process,” Weaver clarified to Jon Heyman on The Show.

And Heyman agrees to it, too, as he is confident that the new Met “bleeds orange/blue.” Plus, we have seen such a scenario just last season.

Max Scherzer walked into Blue Jays camp with a bag from his former team, the Rangers. But then again, it was not a crosstown rivalry.

Keith McPherson on WFAN Sports Radio commented on Weaver carrying his “number 30 Yankee logoed bag.” Per McPherson, even if that bag is his “lucky charm” or carries some “sentimental value,” or whatever the reason, that move “was a mistake.”

But now, it seems fans will gradually get over the whole bag controversy, as Weaver agreed to Metsies.

The Mets have reshaped their roster after a disappointing 2025, replacing departed stars like Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz with significant new talent.

New York signed Bo Bichette to a three‑year, $126 million deal, bringing in a high‑average hitter following Alonso’s departure. They also traded for ace pitcher Freddy Peralta, who led the National League with 17 wins and a 2.70 ERA last season, and acquired speedy, strong defender Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox to fill an outfield hole.

In contrast, the New York Yankees largely returned with the same roster that won 94 games in 2025 and reached the AL Division Series.

The club’s offseason was quieter, adding Paul Goldschmidt and re‑signing Cody Bellinger, along with pitcher Ryan Weathers, but kept the core intact rather than turbocharging it.

Even Yankees captain Aaron Judge described the period as slow, noting the team kept most of its players instead of remaking around new faces. These moves may help consistency, but they stop short of dramatic improvement.

Yet simple rosters on paper don’t always translate to results in the standings, as the Mets’ own 2025 showed.

New York began that season 45‑24 with the best record in baseball, only to slump to a 38‑55 mark the rest of the way and miss the playoffs entirely. The collapse proved that records and payrolls alone don’t guarantee October baseball.

But now, looking at both teams side by side, the Mets’ bold additions and narrative shifts suggest they could be New York’s best team.

Weaver’s comment backing the Mets over the Yankees, combined with high‑profile Mets moves and a quieter Bronx offseason, set up a natural debate before Opening Day.

Along with Luke Weaver, Juan Soto is also eager for the Mets’ 2026 season start

Juan Soto stepped onto the Mets’ spring training fields with a clear focus and fresh energy.

The fans packed Grapefruit League games in record numbers, with over 106,000 attending early workouts, showing the excitement his presence generated.

“That’s in the past,” Soto responded when asked about last season’s issues and insisted the team needed to “have fun, forget about all the drama, focus on the game, and win some ballgames.”

The Mets now have Bo Bichette, who hit .311 with 18 homers and 94 RBIs last season for Toronto. Bichette is expected to bat behind Soto and provide protection in the order that helps both players thrive.

Soto was firm about the new lineup’s strength, saying, “We have Bo, I trust him. He’s a great hitter. He can hit homers and hit for average.”

Looking toward the 2026 season, Soto spoke about a balanced roster and a fresh start for the Mets, turning the page on last year’s 83‑79 finish that left them out of the playoffs.

He embraced his shift to left field and the team’s revamped look, signaling readiness to help the club compete.