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'Least Improved' – Steven Phillips Drops Shocking Prediction For The New York Mets

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated Feb 19, 2026 7:59 AM ET

The New York Mets will start the 2026 campaign with a very different team from their Opening Day roster from last year. They no longer have Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Edwin Diaz in the clubhouse. Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, Devin Williams, and Freddy Peralta are some of their major acquisitions over this offseason.

Contrary to the general opinion, MLB analyst Steve Phillips believes the Mets took a step backward with the changes to their roster from last season. In fact, he declared the Mets are among the least improved teams this winter. Phillips stated they are a weaker side from an offensive standpoint, as well as in the pitching department, than they were in 2025.

“I put them on my least improved list. I think they lost a lot in Pete Alonso. Brandon Nimmo is a better offensive player than Marcus Semien,” he told MLB Network on Wednesday. “Semien is a better defender. But I think they’ve gone backwards defensively.

.@StevePhillipsGM thinks the Mets are one of the “least improved teams” from the offseason and predicts them to finish 3rd in the NL East #MLBNHotStove reacts to the Mets taking a cautious approach with a handful of their players early in Spring Training. pic.twitter.com/zZWcidHFoV
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 18, 2026

“They’re backwards in the closer’s role, where Devin Williams comes in for Edwin Diaz. I love Freddy Peralta. [Nolan] McLean—I believe in him, too. But the rest of the rotation—I don’t know.”

Freddy Peralta is expected to be the ace of the Mets’ rotation that they desperately missed last year, with top prospect Nolan McLean continuing his breakout start in the MLB towards the end of the 2025 campaign. The Mets also have an almost entirely new infield, with Jorge Polanco playing first base, Marcus Semien occupying second, and Bo Bichette filling in at third base.

Steve Phillips Expects Mets to Miss Out On Playoffs Again

David Stearns (Image Credits: Imagn)

During his appearance on MLB Network, Steve Phillips predicted the New York Mets to finish third in the NL East at the end of the season and miss out on the postseason once again this year. He feels Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, relies heavily on the moves they have made this offseason and is not sure the gamble will pay off.

“I actually have them in third place in the NL East. I don’t have them as a playoff team,” Phillips said. “The Mets are one of the most confusing teams for me. David Stearns is often the smartest guy in every room that he’s in. I don’t want to doubt them—and him. But I don’t see this as everybody else does right now.”

Juan Soto and the @Mets welcomed a lot of new faces in the offseason

Here’s their projected lineup and rotation for #OpeningDay! pic.twitter.com/e9vfBlqRtJ
— MLB (@MLB) February 14, 2026

The Mets finished on an 83-69 record last year to take second place in the National League East. They led their division for much of the regular season. However, they embarked on a disastrous run in the past in the final two months of the campaign to finish outside a playoff berth on the final day of the season.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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