The 2025 season for the New York Mets has taken an unexpected turn. After being one of the most aggressive teams at the trade deadline, the club has suffered a steep decline in performance
In the midst of this crisis, David Stearns spoke candidly about the decisions made, acknowledging that, with hindsight, he would have acted differently.
An aggressive market that did not bear fruit
The Mets bolstered their roster with names such as Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto and outfielder Cedric Mullins. However, the results have been disappointing: Helsley has a 10.29 ERA and Mullins is batting just .188. Since July 31, the team has gone 15-26, falling out of the wild-card race.
Stearns admits he would have changed his approach
In a recent interview, Stearns was clear:
If I had known how our season would develop, I absolutely would have made different decisions
Although he defended the process that led to those acquisitions, he acknowledged that the team has not performed as expected in August and September
We had segments of the team that did not meet expectations.
Trust in prospects who were not traded
One of the best decisions, according to Stearns, was to keep prospects Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. With a lack of production in the rotation, the three were promoted in August and have been key in keeping playoff hopes alive. McLean, in particular, has become the team’s best starter.
The price of the big names was too high
Stearns also explained why more ambitious moves did not materialize
We were in talks for players with more control, but the price was very high.
The organization decided not to part with prospects who could contribute in the short term, prioritizing internal development over risky gambles.
Building to compete every year
Beyond the immediate results, Stearns made it clear that his vision goes beyond a single season
I don’t see this as windows. Our responsibility is to compete every year for the playoffs and the title
This philosophy seeks to consolidate a winning and sustainable culture in the long term.
Tough decisions in uncertain times
David Stearns’ comments reflect the complexity of making decisions in an ever-changing environment like baseball. Although the moves at the deadline have not yielded the expected results, the gamble on young talent could be the key to the Mets’ future. Amid the frustration, the team continues to fight to stay in contention, hoping that the best is yet to come.
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