Steve Cohen talks 'mistakes' David Stearns made building 2026 Mets: 'We might have taken too much risk'

Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, publicly assessed the team's disappointing 2026 season, identifying excessive risk-taking in roster construction and organizational restructuring as contributing factors to underperformance. When asked directly about mistakes made by General Manager David Stearns, Cohen stated: "We might have taken too much risk as far as when you think about all the changes that were made."

Cohen's assessment focused on the scope and pace of roster changes rather than casting blame on Stearns' decision-making capabilities. The owner emphasized that "whenever there are significant changes, sometimes it takes a while to integrate," suggesting that integration challenges from aggressive roster moves contributed to the team's struggles. Cohen simultaneously defended Stearns' competence, noting that "David is smart. He knows what he is doing. He is very adaptable. He has learned from mistakes."

The Mets owner's comments reveal an organizational acknowledgment that the strategy employed to build the 2026 roster—while intellectually sound in conception—may have been executed with insufficient margin for error or adjustment. Cohen's willingness to discuss the risk calculus directly indicates a front office reconciliation between aggressive ambition and execution capacity, with particular reference to both roster decisions and coaching staff changes.

Cohen's framing suggests that the 2026 Mets' disappointing season reflects not fundamental management failure but rather a miscalibration of organizational risk tolerance during a period of significant structural change. The owner's emphasis on Stearns' adaptability and learning capacity implies continued confidence in the front office leadership while signaling that future decision-making may prioritize execution feasibility alongside strategic ambition.