The New York Mets have pulled off several moves this offseason that could spark excitement among the fan base heading into the 2026 MLB season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have become a true World Series contender-even within the always competitive National League East.
According to league insiders, David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, set out to improve both the team’s defensive structure and its clubhouse culture. This offseason also became a defining moment for decisions involving key players the organization needed to retain-yet stars like Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso ultimately departed.
A Mets team that looks fragile beyond being contenders
From the perspective of Ken Rosenthal, these Mets are still far from being a team ready to compete for major goals. Writing for The Athletic, Rosenthal notes that the roster appears to have been assembled “in a hurry,” raising defensive concerns, injury risks, and even potential chemistry issues within the clubhouse.
Those concerns are not rooted in the character or talent of the players acquired, nor in their ability to handle one of MLB’s most pressure-filled markets. Instead, Rosenthal points out that it may be difficult for the team to fully gel, given that the Opening Day roster is expected to feature at least eight new players-a turnover rate exceeding 30 percent.
All of this adds complexity to the Mets’ outlook. The key question now is whether the team can remain healthy and avoid injuries that could quickly derail the project-especially with so many newcomers expected to play major roles.
The encouraging news, again according to The Athletic, is that the Mets currently rank third in projected WAR across Major League Baseball, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. That projection places them ahead of National League rivals like the Philadelphia Phillies, who are returning with nearly the same roster as last season.
A poor 2026 campaign could prove devastating for Stearns and deeply painful for a Mets fan base that has waited years for sustained success. Expectations are rising-but so is the pressure.
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