The Mets offseason should have Braves Country smiling

The Mets are living proof that it takes a lot more than a boatload of cash to win championships.

Last offseason, they spent nearly $800 million to win the Juan Soto sweepstakes, yet completely ignored a rotation riddled with holes. Once a couple of injuries struck their starters, the entire thing collapsed. But this offseason has Mets fans asking an even bigger question: what on earth is going on in Queens?

It began with a bizarre decision to trade Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien. Nimmo was a leader in the clubhouse and one of their most consistent offensive players, owning a career .802 OPS. In return, they brought in a declining second baseman who posted a .669 OPS last season, turns 35 in 2026, and has three years and $72 million remaining on his contract.

Then came two more gut punches. Edwin Diaz, arguably the best closer in baseball, signed with the Dodgers. Pete Alonso walked to the Orioles. Diaz got a very reasonable three-year, $69 million deal. Alonso’s five-year, $155 million price tag is much steeper for a player that likely will be a full-time DH sooner rather than later, but he was the heart and soul of the organization, a four-time All-Star who has hit 34+ homers every season since 2019 (excluding the shortened 2020 campaign).

To let both players walk for nothing — when Steve Cohen has more money than God — is mind-boggling.

And it wasn’t just the players. The Mets also let pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and elite first-base/baserunning coach Antoan Richardson leave for Atlanta. Richardson’s departure reportedly came down to the Mets not valuing him enough. This is one of the best baserunning coaches in baseball and someone extremely close with Juan Soto. Letting him walk to a division rival over a few bucks? That is organizational malpractice.

Now, the Mets are left with a lineup full of holes, a rotation in even worse shape, and a bullpen without its best arm. They’ll surely be active the rest of the offseason, but the Braves certainly aren’t complaining about watching their rivals unravel.