Mets' David Stearns makes offseason agenda clear with final Pete Alonso decision

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has now left little doubt that he was convinced the Mets' core as it existed would never take the franchise where it wanted to go. 

Stearns also became public enemy No. 1 among pockets of Mets fans in the process. 

The end of a Mets era

Roughly 24 hours after reports confirmed that star closer Edwin Diaz would be leaving the Mets to sign a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, multiple reports revealed that first baseman Pete Alonso plans to sign a five-year, $155M deal to join the Baltimore Orioles. In late November, the Mets traded longtime outfielder and homegrown talent Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien.

"The Mets never made a formal offer to Pete Alonso, per source, as it became clear to them the bidding was heading to places they weren't interested in going," Anthony DiComo of the MLB website shared. Joel Sherman of the New York Post added that "the Mets never made an offer as it became clear to them that Alonso was getting bids for more dollars and years than in their comfort zone." 

In just a few weeks, Stearns has taken a sledgehammer to a Mets squad that won only 83 games and missed the playoffs last season. He also seemingly said plenty about the clubhouse rumors that have hovered over the Mets for years. 

In the summer of 2023, the Mets reportedly made Alonso "available" before that season's trade deadline in part because of supposed "issues" inside the team's clubhouse. While "vibes" helped carry the 2024 Mets on a magical run all the way to the National League Championship Series, chemistry issues allegedly played a role in the team's collapse after it ended June 12 of this year with a record of 45-24. 

Steve Cohen was ready to nuke Mets' roster

Big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen received praise from Mets fans for winning the Juan Soto sweepstakes and for the club signing Alonso to a two-year deal that included a player opt-out after the 2025 campaign this past February. Cohen didn't swoop in this time around to ensure that Nimmo, Diaz and Alonso would stay put through at least next season. That indicates Cohen agrees with Stearns regarding what is clearly a roster reset for the Mets. 

Cohen didn't sign Soto to a 15-year, $765M contract in December 2024 just to have the Mets punt on the 2026 season. That said, the Mets now have noticeable holes in their starting rotation, bullpen, at first base and in the outfield. 

Stearns' gamble is that he can build a roster that's better than what the Mets had on the final day of the 2025 season. If he's wrong, Mets fans will be calling for Cohen to fire Stearns before the seemingly inevitable MLB work stoppage becomes a reality.