What Carlos Mendoza has told Mets players about expectations early into spring training

While speaking with reporters on Monday, big-spending New York Mets owner Steve Cohen acknowledged that he is "annoyed" and "frustrated" over the fact that he has yet to end the Mets' championship drought that began after the franchise won the 1986 World Series.

Later in the day, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza touched upon what he has told his players early into spring training after the club endured a brutal collapse en route to missing the playoffs last season. 

Carlos Mendoza challenges Mets to embrace expectations

"I think it's just embracing expectations, enjoying the meaning of putting this uniform on, what it means, what we represent, and what we're here for," Mendoza explained, per Colin Martin of SNY. "So it was just more along those lines."

Much has been made about the way Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns dismantled the team's core and parted ways with outfielder Brandon Nimmo, closer Edwin Diaz, first baseman Pete Alonso and utility man Jeff McNeil in different ways this offseason.

Stearns also added ace right-hander Freddy Peralta, third baseman Bo Bichette, second baseman Marcus Semien, first baseman Jorge Polanco, center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and relief pitchers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to a roster that already featured stars Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.

"There's always high expectations here," Mendoza continued. "Our goal is to be the last team standing, and we haven't done that the past couple of years. Understanding the responsibility and what's ahead of us, and just embrace it. We have a really good opportunity to do something special here, so that's the messaging there."

The Mets have not made a single World Series appearance since Cohen assumed ownership of the franchise in the fall of 2020 and made it known that he would consider it "slightly disappointing" if the club didn't win a World Series "in the next three to five years." As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Mets tied for fourth among the betting favorites at +1400 odds to win this year's Fall Classic. 

Is Carlos Mendoza worried about team chemistry?

Multiple reports indicated that the Mets dealt with clubhouse issues last season as they went from 45-24 to missing out on the postseason. Mendoza seems to believe he's the right person to bring everybody together before the games begin to matter in late March. 

"I'm the leader, but I also feel like we have a pretty good leadership group there, so I think it's a group effort," Mendoza said about the Mets' team chemistry. "Just building relationships, connections, so we can earn the trust. That's how you start forming that foundation. I think it's important. I said it the other day, these guys, even though they are new faces playing together for the first time, they've known each other for a long time. We got a lot of guys that have been around this league, so they know each other. I think it's just now a matter of us putting it together, coming together as a team and go out there and do the things that we need to do on the field."

SNY's John Flanigan noted that Mendoza is heading into the final guaranteed year of his contract that includes a club option for a fourth season. If the Mets fail to at least win a playoff series under Mendoza this coming fall, fans may demand that Cohen and Stearns make a leadership change.