You could make the argument that plenty of front offices in baseball are feeling the heat for 365 days a year on a 24/7 basis, but let’s shelve that argument for the moment.
Jayson Stark of The Athletic polled MLB executives from both leagues on the front offices that would be feeling the heat the most, and the New York Mets were front and center, with one particular figure mentioned prominently.
Stark had several comments about the Mets situation, and at this point it almost feels like we’re piling on with these. His was, “Either $340 million doesn’t buy what it used to, or the Mets were baseball’s most massive underachiever last year.”
He referred to the offseason overhaul as “roster sanitation,” then pointed out that the Mets have checked the following box:
IT MUST BE THE PLAYERS FAULT
Stark also made the point that it’s hard to imagine owner Steve Cohen firing GM David Stearns after two years, but it’s not hard to imagine Cohen firing literally anyone else.
“You cannot afford to have back-to-back seasons without a postseason appearance, with one of the highest payrolls,” said one voter, “and not have ramifications.”
Another put the bullseye squarely on the back of manager Carlos Mendoza, who somehow survived an offseason purge in which his entire staff got fired. Expect Mendoza to make every hot-seat list that appears going forward, even if the Mets play great baseball once the season starts given that they already did that last year.
“The fact that they imploded his entire (coaching) staff says that 100 percent, he’s on the manager hot seat,” another exec said, “because his whole staff got blown up. So he’s No. 1 on that (manager hot seat) list, and there’s no one even close to next.”
The Mets brought in a lot of talented players, but the list of things that could go round here is almost as long as the talent list. Shortstop Francisco Lindor is already on the shelf after surgery to repair his broken hamate bone, and outfielder Juan Soto is switching corner outfield positions, the idea being that will help disguise his weak arm.
Infield acquisitions Bo Bichette will play third even though he’s never done that before, while new second baseman Marcus Semien will try his luck with Lindor after feuding with shortstop Corey Seager during his time with the Texas Rangers. It’s still a combustible group for sure, so expect Mendoza to stay busy putting out fires both real and imagined.