The Mets are going to look completely different and play in another way in 2026. In keeping with president of baseball operations David Stearns, they’re going to win video games in several methods than they’ve in current seasons. They’ll be higher defensively, higher outfitted to execute on the “run prevention” purpose Stearns has cited all winter.
Nevertheless it’s the center of January and the Mets have but to discover a right-handed energy bat to guard Juan Soto within the order, they usually haven’t acquired the frontline beginning pitcher they went into the offseason looking for. Nonetheless, Stearns sees sufficient expertise to compete subsequent season, and sufficient time for extra strikes to be made.
“We have elite talent at the top of our major league roster, we’ve got a very good farm system, and we’ve got a very good present day, major league team, as we sit here today, that is going to get better before we get to Opening Day,” Stearns stated Tuesday afternoon at Citi Subject. “I certainly understand that there have been points of this offseason that have been frustrating for a fanbase.”
A lifelong Mets fan, the recognition of the Mets’ baseball ops boss took successful final month after he utterly dismantled the membership’s homegrown core. He traded fan-favorite outfielder Brandon Nimmo, let Pete Alonso stroll to the Baltimore Orioles and traded Jeff McNeil to the A’s for a 17-year-old right-hander. In between, nearer Edwin Diaz selected to signal with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent, taking a three-year $69 million contract with out even giving the Mets an opportunity to match the supply. It surprised many within the Mets, together with Stearns.
Their replacements? Infielder Jorge Polanco, who will play first base for the primary time in his profession with the Mets; Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, who each closed video games for the Yankees final season and earlier than dropping the function to David Bednar; and a 35-year-old Marcus Semien. There are at present solely two outfielders on the roster, with high prospect Carson Benge having been supplied an opportunity to win a task out of camp.
Stearns isn’t attempting to essentially substitute the gamers who left with ones of equal worth or expertise. He’s attempting to maneuver the items round till all of them match collectively.
“I don’t think we look at, like, ‘OK, we lost this piece, so we have to find a replacement piece,’” he stated. “I think we really do look at it like a compilation of all the pieces.”
He’s heard the backlash from the followers, and he’s even heard it from his personal family and friends. The previous Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros government has heard the criticism and the accusations leveled at him, specifically that he’s nonetheless working as if he’s in a small market, and never the architect of the staff with the richest proprietor in North American sports activities, Steve Cohen.
Nonetheless, he’s not backing down. That is his staff now together with his fingerprints throughout it. He stays targeted on its future, each long- and short-term.
“It has not been hard for me to stay patient and stick to my principles,” Stearns stated. “I grew up a Mets fan; I really like the Mets. I’m dedicated to doing this job in a manner that I feel actually units us up for fulfillment for a sustained time period. That’s why I need to be right here. I feel that finish purpose and that finish need and that motivation makes it a lot simpler for me to not be swayed by some near-term sentiment, as troublesome as near-term sentiment could be, and definitely on this city as loud as it may be.
“I understand, ultimately, what our task is, what our mission is. And I believe we’re on our way to achieve it.”
All through the hour that Stearns mentioned the Mets with members of the beat media over lunch, the sentiment that turned clear was this: He likes the staff the best way it’s at present constructed, however nonetheless sees room for enchancment. It might be a rigorously crafted PR narrative, however on condition that the Mets’ personal inside projections look constructive for 2026, it’s extra seemingly that Stearns actually believes the Mets are in a great place with lower than a month earlier than pitchers and catchers report back to Port St. Lucie.
“We have now this gorgeous distinctive mixture proper now of MVP-caliber expertise up high, gamers who’ve already established themselves within the Main Leagues, gamers who’re at that part of their profession, the place there may be the potential for a bounce, and actually thrilling premium younger prospects who’re about to hit the Main League world.
“That is an enviable place for any organization to be.”
