The Mets are going to look different and play differently in 2026. According to president of baseball operations David Stearns, they’re going to win games in different ways than they have in recent seasons. They’ll be better defensively, better equipped to execute on the “run prevention” goal Stearns has cited all winter.
But it’s the middle of January and the Mets have yet to find a right-handed power bat to protect Juan Soto in the order, and they haven’t acquired the frontline starting pitcher they went into the offseason seeking. Still, Stearns sees enough talent to compete next season, and enough time for more moves to be made.
“We have elite talent at the top of our major league roster, we’ve got a very good farm system, and we’ve got a very good present day, major league team, as we sit here today, that is going to get better before we get to Opening Day,” Stearns said Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. “I certainly understand that there have been points of this offseason that have been frustrating for a fanbase.”
A lifelong Mets fan, the popularity of the Mets’ baseball ops boss took a hit last month after he completely dismantled the club’s homegrown core. He traded fan-favorite outfielder Brandon Nimmo, let Pete Alonso walk to the Baltimore Orioles and traded Jeff McNeil to the A’s for a 17-year-old right-hander. In between, closer Edwin Diaz chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent, taking a three-year $69 million contract without even giving the Mets a chance to match the offer. It stunned many in the Mets, including Stearns.
Their replacements? Infielder Jorge Polanco, who will play first base for the first time in his career with the Mets; Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, who both closed games for the Yankees last season and before losing the role to David Bednar; and a 35-year-old Marcus Semien. There are currently only two outfielders on the roster, with top prospect Carson Benge having been offered a chance to win a role out of camp.
The Mets have also made an offer to free agent right fielder Kyle Tucker for three years, a source confirmed to the Daily News. The offer is believed to be for $50 million AAV, and could include a fourth year. Tucker is believed to be amenable to playing left field to accommodate Soto, and Soto could be amenable to playing left field as well.
Stearns isn’t trying to necessarily replace the players who left with ones of equal value or skills. He’s trying to move the pieces around until they all fit together.
“I don’t think we look at, like, ‘OK, we lost this piece, so we have to find a replacement piece,’” he said. “I think we really do look at it like a compilation of all the pieces.”
He’s heard the backlash from the fans, and he’s even heard it from his own friends and family. The former Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros executive has heard the criticism and the accusations leveled at him, namely that he’s still operating as though he’s in a small market, and not the architect of the team with the richest owner in North American sports, Steve Cohen.
Still, he’s not backing down. This is his team now with his fingerprints all over it. He remains focused on its future, both long- and short-term.
“It has not been hard for me to stay patient and stick to my principles,” Stearns said. “I grew up a Mets fan; I love the Mets. I am committed to doing this job in a way that I think truly sets us up for success for a sustained period of time. That’s why I want to be here. I think that end goal and that end desire and that motivation makes it much easier for me to not be swayed by some near-term sentiment, as difficult as near-term sentiment can be, and certainly in this town as loud as it can be.
“I understand, ultimately, what our task is, what our mission is. And I believe we’re on our way to achieve it.”
Throughout the hour that Stearns discussed the Mets with members of the beat media over lunch, the sentiment that became clear was this: He likes the team the way it’s currently constructed, but still sees room for improvement. It could be a carefully crafted PR narrative, but given that the Mets’ own internal projections look positive for 2026, it’s more likely that Stearns truly believes the Mets are in a good spot with less than a month before pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie.
“We have this pretty unique combination right now of MVP-caliber talent up top, players who have already established themselves in the Major Leagues, players who are at that phase in their career, where there is the potential for a jump, and really exciting premium young prospects who are about to hit the Major League world.
“That is an enviable place for any organization to be.”
