MAKING IT HIS OWN

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Monday the Mets cleanse continued as they traded Jeff McNeil to the Athletics for a rookie ball pitcher. McNeil became the latest casualty in David Stearns’ attempt to shape the Mets into his own vision.  With the McNeil departure, the four longest tenured Mets have been let go this offseason, Brandon Nimmo and McNeil were traded while Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walked in free agency. 

Now, while Stearns is making the Mets into his own vision what he is also doing is putting a lot of pressure on himself to win now. Let’s be honest we all know Stears didn’t want Pete back last season, but after the 2024 postseason he had no other choice, but after what occurred last season, Stearns can shape this into his team. But what Stearns has also done is alienate a fanbase, that right now wants his head on a silver platter. Yes, the Mets added Juan Soto last offseason, but to be honest that wasn’t Stearns’ doing, it was Steve Cohen and his checkbook. 

Now while the fans are right to be upset at what is taking place, they also know that just two years ago they were two wins away from going to the World Series. When Steve Cohen bought the Mets, he wanted a World Series in the first five seasons and wanted to be the East coast version of the Dodgers. Now the one advantage the Dodgers have over everyone is that Shohei Ohtani is on the books for two million dollars. Now while Met fans have the right to be mad at Stearns (trust me) they also have to think that he will do something major. Because if he has an underwhelming offseason and the Mets stink in 2026 will Cohen let him go? If not Stearns will have to earn the trust of the fans back, because right now they do not share the same vision.