David Stearns took the blame for a disappointing 2026 at a year-end news conference Monday and also expressed optimism for next season based on what he saw from the young players and healthy veterans in the second half.
“The disappointment of our season is very true and real, and I feel that,” he said. Looking to next year, he added, “there is also the real foundation here for the level of success and competitiveness that we expect to have.”
The Mets finished 74-88, sixth worst in baseball, tied for 20th with the Athletics in runs scored (699, 4.3 per game) and 16th in ERA at 4.15. So there is plenty of room for improvement.
After going to the NLCS in Stearns’ first year at the helm, the team has missed the playoffs for two straight years despite carrying the second-highest payroll in the sport ($358 million in 2026, per FanGraphs).
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Pointed Questions From the Media
Does he feel extra pressure next year because his job could be at stake?
- “I’m always under pressure. My job is to put a winning team on the field.”
Does he regret not re-signing Pete Alonso?
- “Fair question. The truth is, in this job I don’t get mulligans. I also recognize Pete had a tremendous year and the totality of our production at first base wasn’t good enough.”
Should the young players’ performance be taken with a grain of salt because the team was out of the race in the second half?
- “I think it’s real. The majority of those players … were really good prospects.” He was impressed that many of them were able to hit the ground running and that some who did well in the first half were dealing with extreme pressure because the season was slipping away. “I do think it’s real. It doesn’t mean all of them are going to take the next step next year. It doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be bumps in the road.”
Will you add to the rotation?
- “I do think it is necessary for us to add to our starting rotation,” he said. He declined to answer a question aimed specifically at whether the Mets would pursue Tarik Skubal.
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First base?
- He said the starter could come from outside or inside the organization. He liked what he saw of Jared Young and what Brett Baty showed over the last four to six weeks. But he said Baty has to prove he can do it consistently.
Has he talked with Bo Bichette?
- No. Bichette, who has a $42 million player option, has said he will decide whether he will return to New York after the World Series.
Second base?
- He is not committed to Marcus Semien as the starter. Again, he mentioned Baty. He also said there are a “host of really good minor-league infielders who are knocking on the doorstep.”
How does he know Baty is the player who produced in the last month?
- “The truth is we won’t know,” he said. But he added that, having been around Baty for a few years, he thinks his mind is in a better place now.
What will Kodai Senga‘s role be?
- TBD in spring training, though Senga has expressed that he would like to start.
How would you grade yourself?
- “I think we’ve had some that have worked out well and clearly we’ve missed, and I’ve missed. If we look at the last offseason, we missed too much, and I certainly understand that.” He said it is “really tough” to build a team through free agency, and it is the organization’s goal to build from within.
Nate Lavender. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
On the bullpen
- He expects Devin Williams to be healthy and a part of it. He was impressed with Nate Lavender, Dedniel Núñez and Daniel Duarte. He liked Jefry Yan as well, though he wants him to be more consistent.
Why did Freddy Peralta do well in Tampa after struggling with the Mets?
- He didn’t have an excuse (“we were unable to get him over the hump” ) or an explanation other than to say there could be “different factors,” and he pointed out that the Mets did a good job with other pitchers.
- “We will have to wait and see what he looks like in spring training.”
More front office additions?
- Possibly. He is open to it. He said there is always a lot of executive movement in October, and if the right person becomes available, it could happen. The Mets added Derek Falvey to the front office last week as a senior adviser for baseball operations. He was the Twins president of baseball operations from 2019 until last January, and the team made the playoffs four times on his watch.
Coaching staff changes?
- He will talk with Andy Green and decisions will be made in the next week or so.
- He thought his year was “up and down” but was encouraged by his defense, command of the pitching staff, and how he called games in the second half.
Is anyone other than Nolan McLean guaranteed a spot in the rotation?
- He declined to speculate.
Miscellaneous
Stearns said New York is a “unique place to play” and he will look for players in free agency who “lean into that.”
He said Reed Garrett and Tylor Megill will be ready for spring training and that Megill will compete for a rotation spot. Ronny Mauricio will also be competing for a spot.
