New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns Remains Confident Despite Offseason Criticism
On January 13, 2026, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed the media at a Citi Field luncheon, acknowledging the harsh criticism the team has faced this offseason. The Mets have made significant changes, including saying goodbye to popular players such as Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil. Despite the backlash, Stearns remains steadfast in his vision for the 2026 season and beyond.
“Clearly, this has been an offseason with a lot of change. Some of that change has been really tough,” Stearns said. “I certainly understand that there have been points in this offseason that have been frustrating for our fan base. We’re not blind to that at all. I’m certainly not blind to that. I hear it. I recognize it. I hear it from my friends and family, at times. I’m also very convicted that what we are doing is the right thing for our franchise going forward to accomplish our goals of creating a consistent playoff team. A team that year after year is a true World Series contender.”
The Mets have made several moves to reshape their roster, including signing closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal, and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement. The team also acquired Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien from Texas in a trade for Nimmo. Stearns expressed his commitment to improving the team’s defense and creating a sustainable winning culture.
Looking to the Future
The Mets are also pursuing free agent Kyle Tucker, who batted.266 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs, and an.841 OPS in 136 games for the Chicago Cubs last season. According to sources, the Mets have offered Tucker a short-term deal worth $50 million per season. This move would pair Tucker with Juan Soto, providing a significant boost to the team’s outfield.
New York finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record, missing the playoffs despite having a projected payroll and luxury tax of $431 million, the second-highest in baseball. Stearns acknowledged that the team’s previous performance was not good enough and emphasized the need for improvement. “What we’ve done previously has not been good enough. We all know that. I certainly know that. And we’ve got to do better,” he said.
Stearns pointed to the team’s young players, including catcher Francisco Alvarez, third baseman Brett Baty, and pitcher Nolan McLean, as reasons for both immediate and long-term optimism. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to develop these players into key contributors. “We do think we’ve got a really special crop of young starters,” Stearns said. “I think to this point we’ve yielded really good prospects, and the next challenge for us is let’s turn them into really good major league players.”
A New Era for the Mets
As the Mets look to the future, Stearns remains committed to his vision of creating a consistent playoff team. Despite the criticism and challenges faced this offseason, he believes that the team is on the right path. “I think we’re going to be able to be a good team and win games in somewhat different ways than maybe we have over the past couple of years, and the roster we’re putting together I think will reflect that,” Stearns said. With a focus on improving defense and developing young talent, the Mets are poised to embark on a new era of competitiveness in the 2026 season and beyond.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
