New York Mets fans expected clarity on the futures of Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz this week. Instead, the club opened business at the Winter Meetings with a move that sparked backlash online: signing veteran reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor-league deal.
It was Will Sammon who broke the news that the 34-year-old pitcher – who posted a 4.44 ERA with strong strikeout and ground-ball rates in Triple-A last year – would join the Mets with an invitation to spring training. Edwards represents solid bullpen depth, but not the blockbuster development fans have spent weeks anxiously awaiting.
And that’s the problem.
Alonso – coming off a season with 38 homers, 126 RBI, and a 141 wRC+ – remains unsigned while multiple teams circle. Díaz, fresh off a dominant rebound year with a 1.28 ERA and 38% strikeout rate, is reportedly seeking another five-year deal. Yet the Mets are prioritizing depth arms, a decision many fans see as an alarming déjà vu.
Social media delivered the verdict quickly and harshly.
Fans blast Stearns over his bad deals
“Stearns dumpster diving never dies,” one fan wrote, referencing president of baseball operations David Stearns’ growing reputation for bargain shopping. Others mocked the string of minor-league signings – Anderson Severino, Nick Burdi and now Edwards – as “leftovers from the Yankees’ recycling bin.”
“SLOP,” another user simply commented.
Many fear history repeating itself: last offseason dragged into February before Alonso inked a two-year deal – but this time, after a career year, waiting only seems to drive the slugger further from Queens. Tension has lingered since Steve Cohen openly expressed displeasure with Alonso’s free-agency approach under agent Scott Boras.
Fans don’t want symbolism – they want action.
“This is supposed to be a big-market winter,” one frustrated poster wrote. “If not now, when?”
Mets fans’ patience is wearing thin
While the Mets insist depth is necessary around their newly locked-in $765 million superstar, Juan Soto, the impatience is real. Other contenders are making aggressive moves – Toronto pursued Dylan Cease and Kyle Tucker – while New York appears stuck on the sidelines.
With Winter Meetings underway, the message from fans is loud and clear: Enough bargain bin buys. Make the big decisions. Pay the stars. End the wait.
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