Huge Questions Ahead After $341 Million Mets Miss Playoffs

Pete Alonso smashing a 115.9 miles per hour liner into outfielder Javier Sanoja’s glove to end the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded symbolized the Mets’ collapse.

Mets Squandered Best Record In Baseball

It’s hard to believe that this team missed out on the playoffs after owning the league’s best record at 45-24 on June 12. Since that date, the Mets went an abysmal 38-55 over the final 93 games of the regular season.

Steve Cohen spent $341 million to build a legitimate World Series contending-roster. The second highest payroll in the majors couldn’t even punch a ticket to the Wild Card Round. 

When Juan Soto was signed to a $51 million annual contract, expectations were raised. At minimum, the Mets should have been able to push for the National League pennant and possibly a World Series berth.

Fans expected exhilarating postseason nights at Citi Field. They hoped that this year’s squad could bring back feelings of 1986.

Instead, the offseason will be dominated by local airwaves and newspapers demanding significant changes to the roster and coaching staff.

Mendoza and Stearns Deserve Blame

Some fans have taken to social media to call for manager Carlos Mendoza to be fired. The Mets finished the season a putrid 0-70 when trailing after eight innings. After July 26, the Mets only won a single game when they scored fewer than five runs.

“I take responsibility,” Mendoza told reporters following Sunday’s defeat. “I'm the manager. It starts with me. I've got to take a long look here, how I need to get better.”

General manager David Stearns deserves equal blame. Of all 30 MLB teams, the Mets ranked last with a minus-3.77 in win probability added at the trade deadline. Stearns’ decision to pass on starting pitching at the deadline was a major reason why the Amazins missed out on the postseason.

Big Offseason Changes Ahead

Should Stearns be retained as general manager, he will have plenty of big calls to make on who to bring back for 2026.

Alonso has already indicated that he will opt out of his contract. Alonso, Starling Marte, Jesse Winker, Cedric Mullins, Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsely, Tyler Rogers, Ryne Stanek and Gregory Soto could all potentially be free agents.

The Mets will need to make starting pitching additions a priority, overhaul the bullpen and fix a defense that committed costly errors in the final months of the season.

It's going to take plenty of Cohen's millions to put the Mets back together again.