Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen publicly committed to honoring David Stearns' five-year contract as Mets president of baseball operations through the 2028 season, declaring "we're going to live that contract out" during a New York Post podcast appearance.
- • The Mets have compiled a 208-202 record under Stearns across three seasons, with back-to-back playoff misses (2025 and 2026) despite a Game 6 NLCS appearance in Stearns' first year.
- • The 2026 Mets roster has deteriorated to 36-50 (last place in NL East) following offseason personnel decisions including the departure of franchise cornerstone Pete Alonso, trades of Brandon Nimmo and acquisition of underperforming or injury-prone players (Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr.).
- • The organization replaced manager Carlos Mendoza with interim skipper Andy Green following poor on-field performance, yet ownership attributes the decline to front-office construction rather than field management.
- • Cohen's public endorsement suggests tolerance for near-term underperformance, though the owner's patience will likely face scrutiny if a third consecutive playoff miss occurs in 2027.
Summary
Mets owner Steve Cohen has publicly affirmed his commitment to David Stearns as president of baseball operations, stating during an appearance on The New York Post's "The Show" podcast that Stearns will "live out" the remainder of his five-year contract extending through 2028. Cohen's declaration comes amid significant organizational turmoil, with the franchise sitting at 36-50 and in last place in the National League East through late June 2026.
The timing of Cohen's endorsement is notably defensive. The Mets have missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season after a precipitous decline that began in mid-2025. In Stearns' inaugural 2024 season, the Mets recorded a 89-73 record and advanced to Game 6 of the NLCS before falling to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. However, since posting a league-best 45-24 record in June 2025, the franchise has operated with a losing record. Last season's collapse resulted in a one-game playoff miss despite a 83-79 finish, and the 2026 campaign has deteriorated further with a 36-50 mark.
The recent dismissal of manager Carlos Mendoza and promotion of Andy Green as interim skipper reflects organizational instability, yet the underlying challenge traces to Stearns' offseason roster construction. The 2026 roster acquisitions—including trades for underperforming pitcher Freddy Peralta (4.53 ERA), closer Devin Williams (4.13 ERA), and position player Bo Bichette (.678 OPS)—have underdelivered. Simultaneously, Stearns allowed franchise cornerstone Pete Alonso to depart in free agency and traded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers. The front office also added injury-prone players including Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., creating compounding roster depth issues.
Cohen's willingness to retain Stearns through the 2028 season suggests the owner recognizes the multi-year timeline required for roster reconstruction, yet the public commitment also signals confidence that may face erosion if performance deteriorates further. The Mets' record under Stearns now stands at 208-202 across three seasons, and a third consecutive playoff miss in 2027 would substantially test Cohen's stated resolve.
The timing of Cohen's endorsement is notably defensive. The Mets have missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season after a precipitous decline that began in mid-2025. In Stearns' inaugural 2024 season, the Mets recorded a 89-73 record and advanced to Game 6 of the NLCS before falling to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. However, since posting a league-best 45-24 record in June 2025, the franchise has operated with a losing record. Last season's collapse resulted in a one-game playoff miss despite a 83-79 finish, and the 2026 campaign has deteriorated further with a 36-50 mark.
The recent dismissal of manager Carlos Mendoza and promotion of Andy Green as interim skipper reflects organizational instability, yet the underlying challenge traces to Stearns' offseason roster construction. The 2026 roster acquisitions—including trades for underperforming pitcher Freddy Peralta (4.53 ERA), closer Devin Williams (4.13 ERA), and position player Bo Bichette (.678 OPS)—have underdelivered. Simultaneously, Stearns allowed franchise cornerstone Pete Alonso to depart in free agency and traded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers. The front office also added injury-prone players including Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., creating compounding roster depth issues.
Cohen's willingness to retain Stearns through the 2028 season suggests the owner recognizes the multi-year timeline required for roster reconstruction, yet the public commitment also signals confidence that may face erosion if performance deteriorates further. The Mets' record under Stearns now stands at 208-202 across three seasons, and a third consecutive playoff miss in 2027 would substantially test Cohen's stated resolve.
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