It’s been an offseason for the New York Mets, that’s the simplest way to put it. After completing one of the most epic collapses in baseball history, Steve Cohen vowed to fans on Sept. 29 that change was coming, issuing his sincerest apologies to an angered fan base. Less than three months later, the team has blown up a former core that fans dearly loved.
Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, and Brandon Nimmo, all Mets since the 2019 season, have now parted ways with New York due to the new vision President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has in mind. Fans, rightfully so, are irate with the moves, wondering whether it is really worth traveling to Citi Field in 2026.
Following Alonso’s departure, Cohen sent a text to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman that read:
“I totally understand the fans’ reaction. There is a lot of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field.”
The question remains: Does Cohen truly care about this team and its fan base, or has this simply been a decoy for his grand plan to build a multibillion-dollar casino across from Citi Field?
A “Checking In” Frenzy
Stearns and the Mets have spent the entire offseason doing one thing: checking in. For nearly every headlining free agent who has signed so far, New York has made an attempt to gauge the market, allowing four former tenured Mets to walk, along with Robert Suarez, who could have potentially settled in as the team’s new closer.
Stearns has made one significant move, bringing in former Yankee Devin Williams on a three-year, $51 million contract, locking him in as the team’s new closer.
The move angered the now-former Met Díaz, who was still a free agent at the time and never received a heads-up from his former team. The Mets had offered Díaz a three-year, $66 million contract, expecting their closer of the past several seasons to circle back in negotiations. Instead, he signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, stating during his introductory press conference that Los Angeles offered him the easiest path to winning, calling it a “winning organization.”
Thank you, Edwin. pic.twitter.com/gbHCx6xuET
— New York Mets (@Mets) December 12, 2025
On the other side of the country, roughly 30 minutes later, Alonso introduced himself to the Baltimore media, wearing a different uniform for the first time in his career.
“For me, every offseason is interesting because you see what happens,” Alonso said. “Last year, it was a great situation. This year, ultimately, it has been a tremendous process. The way that it happened was perfect. I wouldn’t change anything.”
The Mets are now scrambling to find players who can fit the roster for next season, while fans sit in utter shock after losing multiple fan favorites.
Can Mets Fans Truly Trust David Stearns?
In some cases, blowing up a core after going 38-55 over the final 93 games of a season is understandable, but the way it unfolded was embarrassing. The Mets did not even make a formal offer to Alonso, the player who broke the franchise home run record in just six seasons.
Fans have taken to social media to voice their anger toward Stearns, but there is still time to steer the ship in the right direction.
“I’m very optimistic about where our offseason is headed,” Stearns said the night Díaz signed. “We’ve certainly got work to do. I am confident that we’re really going to like where our team is once we get to Opening Day.”
Alonso signed in Baltimore just one day later, with reports indicating the Mets never attempted to match the offer. Still, Stearns has a strong track record of building competitive teams, most notably during his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers.
In 2018, Stearns made a franchise-altering move by acquiring Christian Yelich, who went on to win the National League MVP in his first season with the Brewers. He also added key pieces such as Lorenzo Cain and Willy Adames, while overseeing the development of homegrown stars Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta.
With the Mets, Stearns has yet to make a move that has directly reshaped the team on his own. Juan Soto was a Steve Cohen-driven acquisition, and Cohen was also heavily involved in Alonso’s re-signing last season, during which Alonso reportedly told Stearns he was “a lot better than whatever metrics he was looking at.”
Still, Stearns has a vision. He wants to build a sustainable winner not by spending heavily on every top free agent, but through analytical research, targeting players with high upside, defensive strengths, and balanced skill sets.
What’s Next for the Mets?
There are still several names on the market the Mets could pursue. Whether it’s Cody Bellinger or Framber Valdez, Stearns has multiple paths to explore.
Recent reports indicate the Mets have checked in on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who has nine days remaining in his posting window. In eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami hit .270 with 246 home runs and a .951 OPS. The Japanese phenom has drawn comparisons to Kyle Schwarber due to his immense power, high walk rate, and elevated strikeout totals.
Additionally, the Mets have engaged in trade discussions with several teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, regarding outfielder Lars Nootbaar and first baseman Willson Contreras. They have also revisited talks with the White Sox about Luis Robert Jr., though those discussions have yet to gain traction.
There is still plenty of time before Citi Field fully thaws from the winter freeze, meaning David Stearns may yet have an opportunity to field a competitive Mets roster.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
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