While the Mets and their fans are ecstatic about Thursday’s blockbuster deal, the emotions on the other side of the trade are very different.

The cost-cutting Indians clearly were painted into a financial corner, and felt the need to send All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and quality starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the now cash-fluid Mets. In exchange, they infielders Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez and prospects Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene.

“I was in tears in the conversations with Carlos [Carrasco] and Francisco [Lindor],” Indians president Chris Antonetti told reporters, according to MLB.com. “And they were as well because we care about each other.”

Antonetti has said the Indians lost in the “tens of millions” due to the pandemic, and have been cutting payroll. Lindor and Carrasco were both lifelong Indians who were developed by the franchise. Carrasco, 33, is guaranteed $27 million over the next three seasons. Lindor, with just one year left on his contract, was too expensive for the Indians to keep, owner Paul Dolan has said. Lindor will make $19.5 million this year.

“I don’t begrudge Frankie for anything,” Antonetti said.

As for his own fans’ anger at being able to keep homegrown stars, Antonetti said: “We feel a lot of those same emotions. I can understand the sadness, the frustration … I get it, I understand.”