This is the first time the New York Mets truly reflect president of baseball operations David Stearns' vision, which means the success — or failure — of this
David Stearns , President of Baseball Operations for the New York Mets , is speaking to the media during a press conference before the baseball game at Citi Field in Corona, N.Y., on August 16, 2024. NO USE FRANCE This is the first time the New York Mets truly reflect president of baseball operations David Stearns ’ vision, which means the success — or failure — of this roster falls squarely on his shoulders now and in perpetuity, as long as he holds this job.
The 2026 Mets have undergone their most significant changes of the Steve Cohen era. Franchise cornerstones in home run king Pete Alonso, long-time outfielder Brandon Nimmo, and superstar closer Brandon Nimmo are gone.The starting rotation, which crashed and burned spectacularly last season, has not changed much, while wild cards dot the bullpen. Surefire, slam-dunk moves have been fewer and farther between this winter. Instead, perhaps an over-reliance on hypotheticals. Rather than fill those holes with the free-spending abandon the organization has been known to do in recent years since Cohen’s arrival, Stearns displayed the sort of pragmatism that helped build the mid-market Milwaukee Brewers into a perennial contender.The big bat of Alonso has been placed by veteran middle infielder Jorge Polanco, and perhaps a backup platoon of Brett Baty or Mark Vientos, neither of whom is a natural first baseman. Bo Bichette, the team’s marquee signing this winter is moving from shortstop to third base, relegating Baty to a super-utility role. He reunites with his old Blue Jays teammate Marcus Semien, acquired from the Texas Rangers in that November trade for Nimmo, and brought in for his elite glove at second base to replace McNeil, with the hope that the notion of his offensive decline has been exaggerated. Mar 5, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette celebrates after scoring against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Juan Soto has moved to Nimmo’s old spot in left, and the organization’s No. 2 prospect, Carson Benge, will start Opening Day in right field. In between them is Luis Robert Jr., the Chicago White Sox slugger who, when healthy, has 30-plus-home-run power. The problem is that he has not played a full season since 2023. Freddy Peralta was acquired from the Brewers to be the Mets’ ace and form a significant 1-2 punch alongside rookie righty Nolan McLean, who burst onto the scene late last summer.The belief is that Kodai Senga can bounce back to his 2023 form, and David Peterson’s second-half free-fall was an anomaly following an All-Star worthy start. In the middle is the surprisingly reliable Clay Holmes, who was a much-neededThe analytics are suggesting that former Brewers and Yankees closer Devin Williams can return to All-Star form after a disastrous debut in the Bronx last year. Luke Weaver, another ex-Yankees closer, will initially be relied on as his set-up man. They headline a bullpen that could use AJ Minter’s return sooner rather than later and also features starter Sean Manaea, who dealt with a concerning drop in velocity this spring. Despite the litany of “what ifs?”, the Mets are still very much believed to be a legitimate contender for the National League East crown this season. PECOTA projects 89 wins and a top-two spot in the division, and that’s sensible. After all, this is still a roster that features a generational superstar in Soto, one of the top shortstops in the game, Francisco Lindor, and Bichette was one of just seven players in Major League Baseball last season to hit .300 or better.Joe Pantorno has been the executive sports editor of amNewYork since 2020. He covers the New York Mets and is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America . He is also a member of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association and has covered the New York Islanders for nearly a decade. His previous stops include Bleacher Report and Metro New York, while his work has been featured in the New York Post, Newsday, and Yahoo! Sports.If things fall right, Mets have ‘multiple’ No. 1 starters after Freddy Peralta trade Mamdani appeals CityFHEPS lawsuit, breaking campaign promise to drop suit and expand rental assistance to thousandsEviction or extortion? Inside the heated East Village housing battle between communal tenants and their landlord over disrepair Pigeon petition: Thousands of advocates want NYC’s giant pigeon statue to stay perched at the High LinePigeon petition: Thousands of advocates want NYC’s giant pigeon statue to stay perched at the High Linefairs to live life in full bloom this spring
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