Paul Blackburn Delivers Blunt Admission In Difference Between Mets and Yankees Clubhouse

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The Yankees are trying to figure out their bullpen woes, which is why they added Paul Blackburn.

As this offseason begins to thicken, both the New York Mets and Yankees are off to slow starts, but there is still time to turn things around. But do free agents want to sign with the Mets due to clubhouse concerns?

There have been several MLB players who have been in both a Mets and a Yankees uniform over the years. Paul Blackburn is one of them, and he recently re-signed with the Yankees after joining the team from the Bronx midseason in 2025. Blackburn delivered a blunt message to the Mets’ clubhouse recently that is sure to have Mets fans confused.

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‘Different Vibe’ Says Paul Blackburn on Clubhouse Difference

In an exclusive piece by the New York Post’s Dan Martin, Paul Blackburn had this to say about the clubhouse vibe in 2025 between both teams:

“When I showed up to the Yankees, it was very noticeable how everyone was pulling on the same rope. Guys seemed to really like eachother 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 added that there was a “different vibe” within the Yankees clubhouse, as opposed to the Mets.

GettyNew York Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn

Just such an interesting statement to make, considering the sample size Blackburn actually pitched with both teams. Over 2024-2025 with the Mets, Blackburn made nine starts and posted a 6 ERA in 48 innings. With the Yankees in 2025, Blackburn had a 5.28 ERA in 15 innings.

Is this a concern for the Mets’ future, as other top free agents may get word of this and be deterred from signing in Queens? After a disastrous end to the 2025 season led to the Mets missing the playoffs, it’s clear the front office is in the market for wholesale changes.

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The Mets Have Lost A Lot of Production, But Poached the Yankees’ Pitchers

It truly might need to be studied, the dynamic of players going from the Yankees to the Mets in recent memory, which is makes this statement by Blackburn so interesting.

If the clubhouse vibe is so different, why have so many top Yankees’ free agents decided to sign with the Mets in recent memory? That includes Luke Weaver and Devin Williams this winter, and Juan Soto last offseason.

A lot of Mets fans might also not take this statement from Blackburn all that personally because of how poorly he pitched with them over the past two seasons.

However, Paul Blackburn joins a growing list of MLB players who had success before going to the Mets, and then started to falter in performance during their time with New York’s sister organization.

This offseason, it’s become increasingly apparent that the likes of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz have decided to sign with other MLB teams almost as soon as possible. David Stearns also traded Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil to bring in some new faces, but the 2025 Mets may have had extreme disruption within the walls.

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