Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen declared at spring training (February 16, 2026) that the Mets will never have a team captain during his ownership, a deliberate departure from previous ownership philosophy under which David Wright served as captain from 2013–2018.
- • Only two MLB teams currently have captains—the Yankees (Aaron Judge) and Royals (Salvador Perez)—making the position rare in baseball despite its prevalence in football and hockey.
- • Cohen's rationale centers on organizational philosophy: he believes the locker room should organically determine leadership year-to-year rather than rely on formal designation, allowing team composition changes to drive internal hierarchy naturally.
- • The decision preempts recurring speculation about Francisco Lindor assuming a captaincy role; despite Lindor's star status and multi-year guaranteed contract, Cohen confirmed he never intended to name any player to the position.
- • The Mets have had four captains in franchise history (Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, John Franco, and David Wright), but Cohen's ownership signals a structural shift in how the organization approaches player leadership and locker room management.
Summary
Steve Cohen addressed the team captain question directly during spring training at Clover Park on Monday, February 16, 2026, stating unequivocally: "As long as I'm owning the team, there will never be a team captain." The Mets owner framed the decision as a matter of personal organizational philosophy rather than circumstance, noting it was "my decision" and that he has "felt that way all along."
Cohen's position represents a deliberate shift from the Mets' historical approach. David Wright served as team captain from 2013 through his retirement following the 2018 season, making him the most recent captain in franchise history. Prior captains included Hall of Famers Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter, along with John Franco. The eight-year gap since Wright's departure created recurring speculation about whether the organization would name a successor, particularly as Francisco Lindor emerged as a cornerstone player with multi-year financial security. Cohen directly dismissed this possibility, emphasizing that no captain designation would occur under his watch.
The owner articulated his rationale as rooted in flexibility and organic leadership: "My view is the locker room is unique, and let the locker room sort it out year in, year out." He emphasized that "every year, the team's different" and that allowing leadership to emerge naturally from within rather than through formal designation better serves the organization. Cohen acknowledged that captaincy itself is uncommon in baseball—a structural point of distinction from sports like football and hockey where multiple teams employ captains. As of February 2026, only two MLB teams have captains: the Yankees' Aaron Judge and the Royals' Salvador Perez, reinforcing that the role is not a standard industry practice.
Cohen's comments underscore a broader organizational directive regarding locker room autonomy and leadership structure under his ownership. The decision signals that the Mets will not adopt formal leadership designations as a management tool, instead relying on player-driven hierarchy and season-to-season dynamics to establish team cohesion and direction.
Cohen's position represents a deliberate shift from the Mets' historical approach. David Wright served as team captain from 2013 through his retirement following the 2018 season, making him the most recent captain in franchise history. Prior captains included Hall of Famers Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter, along with John Franco. The eight-year gap since Wright's departure created recurring speculation about whether the organization would name a successor, particularly as Francisco Lindor emerged as a cornerstone player with multi-year financial security. Cohen directly dismissed this possibility, emphasizing that no captain designation would occur under his watch.
The owner articulated his rationale as rooted in flexibility and organic leadership: "My view is the locker room is unique, and let the locker room sort it out year in, year out." He emphasized that "every year, the team's different" and that allowing leadership to emerge naturally from within rather than through formal designation better serves the organization. Cohen acknowledged that captaincy itself is uncommon in baseball—a structural point of distinction from sports like football and hockey where multiple teams employ captains. As of February 2026, only two MLB teams have captains: the Yankees' Aaron Judge and the Royals' Salvador Perez, reinforcing that the role is not a standard industry practice.
Cohen's comments underscore a broader organizational directive regarding locker room autonomy and leadership structure under his ownership. The decision signals that the Mets will not adopt formal leadership designations as a management tool, instead relying on player-driven hierarchy and season-to-season dynamics to establish team cohesion and direction.
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