The sentiment that Steve Cohen should fire president of baseball operations David Stearns is only growing as the New York Mets’ downward early-season spiral continues, and understandably so.
Not even two weeks into May, and Stearns’ squad’s season is likely already over. They have the worst record in the National League at 15-25 and are 12.5 games out of the NL East division lead.
The offseason moves he made have simply not panned out. A passable offense, albeit one that struggled mightily in clutch spots last season, was gutted with the departures of Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo (and Jeff McNeil. Stearns’ replacements have not done the job.
Bo Bichette, who batted .311 last year with the Toronto Blue Jays, is batting .222. Jorge Polanco has been shelved since last month, and his bursitis is still nagging at him while his wrist slowly improves. The oft-injured Luis Robert Jr. is hurt, and Marcus Semien is batting .225.
They have the worst offense in baseball, the starting rotation has three viable options with a potential fourth in the works with Christian Scott, and the bullpen is unreliable, with the former Yankees duo of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver patrolling the back end.
Simply put, this is one of the worst teams that money could buy, and it’s especially astounding because the Mets’ $370 million payroll is the second-highest in the majors behind the juggernaut Dodgers.
Is that grounds for firing Stearns less than three years into his reign? Certainly. But this version of roster construction is not what the 41-year-old was brought in to do, and it’s why his job is more likely than not safe — regardless of whether that is fair or not.
Cohen has preached throughout his first half-decade in charge of the Mets that he wants to build a sustainable winner from within, and Stearns has transformed the club’s farm system from one of the worst into one of the best.
MLB Pipeline rated the Mets’ farm system as the seventh-best in the majors entering the 2026 season, headlined by a deep pool of pitching talent ranging from Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger to Jonathan Santucci and Will Watson. Carson Benge is starting to turn a corner in his start to life in the pros, and slugger Ryan Clifford and outfielder AJ Ewing are showing upside, as well.
There is a reason why he did not dole out long-term, huge-money offers this winter. Of the Mets’ current roster, only eight players have guaranteed contracts, not including those with options. The value of dollars committed (value of guaranteed contracts of players on the roster) drops from $274.8 million this year to $201.9 million next year, assuming that there actually will be baseball played in 2027 instead of a hostile lockout/strike.
Ultimately, Stearns will likely be judged more harshly on the next few seasons and the development of the talent that he has built in the minor leagues. If a steady pipeline is established and the Mets can build more of a contender from within, he will probably be absolved of this year’s developing nightmare.
For more on David Stearns and the Mets, visit AMNY.com