In the heart of New York baseball, few things generate as much emotion and controversy as the Yankees-Mets rivalry. With their 27 World Series victories, the Yankees symbolize historic dominance, while the Mets, with their gritty underdog attitude, strive for respect. It’s a confrontation of cultures, and legacies. In an unexpected twist of events, though, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor recently minimized the rivalry’s ferocity.

A long-standing feature of New York sports culture is the Subway Series, which pits the Mets’ tenacious determination against the Yankees’ famous dominance. Both teams’ fans eagerly mark the dates on their calendars, knowing that bragging rights in the city are at stake. Despite the usual excitement surrounding the rivalry, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has sparked discussion with his recent remarks regarding the Yankees-Mets dynamic. Lindor, who has been a vital member of the Mets since 2021, wasn’t afraid to share his thoughts on the importance of this rivalry as the season approaches.

The remark came in the latest conversation with WFAN Sports Radio, where Francisco Lindor was questioned about the Mets’ prospects for the 2025 campaign and how they intend to compare to their rivals from across town. His answer was quite direct and illuminating. “I feel we are in a really good spot until we get out and play against them and, you know, see what’s gonna happen at the beginning of the year,” Lindor said. “Obviously, they made it further than us last year, but nobody really cares about who really cares and pays attention to what we did last year or the last year. You know, we gotta go out and get it done this year.”

The Mets might not have been able to win championships like the Yankees, but their recent move has given a deeper insight into the rivalry. Recent Mets moves, particularly the monumental 15-year, $765 million contract securing Juan Soto, have injected a fresh jolt of energy into the narrative, proving the Mets are determined to challenge the Yankees’ dominance. Moreover, this comment by Francisco Lindor has given one more twist in the history of the two rivals. Is Francisco Lindor’s take on the Yankees-Mets rivalry a spark or a setback?

Does Francisco Lindor’s comment reflect a rivalry on the decline?

Francisco Lindor‘s remarks indicate a growing belief that the Yankees-Mets rivalry may not be as significant as it once was. Even though the Subway Series is still a widely anticipated event, its intensity has unquestionably diminished with time. The Yankees’ tense five-game series victory in the 2000 World Series marked the last time the rivalry reached a boiling point. The Yankees’ ongoing supremacy in the years that followed, along with the emotional toll of that battle, made the rivalry even more intense.

The statistics support the idea that the Subway Series rivalry may be losing its competitive edge. The Yankees have won 18 of the last 28 meetings, dominating the head-to-head record in the previous five seasons (2020–2024). The Yankees swept the Mets in both series in 2023 alone, highlighting the distance between the clubs. The Subway Series’ attendance numbers have also been declining.

The average Yankees-Mets game attendance in 2024 was about 38,000, a significant decrease from the early 2010s, when it frequently exceeded 45,000. Similar declining trends have been seen in television ratings; during the past five years, the combined viewership of the YES Network and SNY has decreased by over 15%. Francisco Lindor’s comment clearly indicates a change in priorities. For today’s players, winning championships is more critical than defeating a particular opponent. Lindor signed a 10-year, $341 million contract in 2021, hoping to win in the postseason.

Even though the Yankees and Mets may face each other multiple times throughout the regular season, the players don’t think much of them unless such games result in postseason momentum. Francisco Lindor remarks that the Mets care more about winning in October than local bragging rights. However, the real test of the rivalry’s significance will be determined on the field as the season progresses.