Despite mounting fan outrage and disastrous free-agent signings, Steve Cohen remains committed to his executive leader as the club navigates a plummeting payroll and a managerial search.
We’re coming up on three years since the New York Mets brought in David Stearns as the club’s President of Baseball Operations on a five-year deal back in October of 2023. In his first season at the helm of the front office in Queens, Stearns improved the Mets’ win total by 15 and got within two games of the World Series.
Stearns and New York have since missed the postseason in each of the last two years, even sitting in last place in the National League East at the moment. Still, Stearns is likely to stay beyond the end of this season despite the team’s shortcomings under his guidance, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Stearns' biggest task will be finding the club’s next manager to replace interim Andy Green, who will return to his front office role at the end of the season. Since taking over for the fired Carlos Mendoza in June, Green has led the Mets to a 35-34 record. Despite the success under Green in a deeply disappointing year, Stearns will be tasked with searching for a new manager to shift the tides in 2027 and beyond.
Olney’s report comes after there were chants to fire Stearns ringing throughout Citi Field during Pete Alonso’s return to New York. Alonso, New York’s all-time home run leader, signed with the Baltimore Orioles last offseason after never receiving a formal contract offer from Stearns and the Mets. Since his move to Baltimore, Alonso has smashed 36 home runs, driven in 106 RBI’s, and, as fate would have it, sent his 300th career home run over the fence at Citi Field just last night.
Mets fans haven’t been shy with their outrage aimed at the front office for Alonso’s departure. Instead of paying $155 million over five years to keep Alonso, Stearns signed Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal, Devin Williams to a $51 million deal, Luke Weaver to a $22 million deal (who has since been traded), and Jorge Polanco to a $40 million contract.
There were multiple other poor moves made by Stearns in the offseason, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, such as trading for Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta, leading to back-to-back seasons missing out on the postseason despite having one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
Despite Stearns’ shortcomings in the last couple of years, owner Steve Cohen will be sticking with his President of Baseball Operations for the time being. Though the fans’ fuse might be short with Stearns, if he can turn things around in New York to make a similar run as they did in 2024, it’ll be much easier for the fans to step back onto his side.
For now, however, there is anger in New York directed at Stearns, but it won’t be enough to keep him away for 2027.
