Did clubhouse vibe impact ’25 team’s record?

Anthony DiComo, MLB.com’s Mets beat reporter, held an “Ask Me Anything” this week on Reddit with Mets fans at r/NewYorkMets. This mailbag features excerpted questions and answers from that event (some lightly edited for clarity). The full AMA is available to read here.

Given the reports about internal tension between players (for example, rumored clashes involving Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil and Juan Soto), do you think clubhouse chemistry played a big part in 2025’s under-performance?

Let me start by saying I have covered bad clubhouses before, and from my perspective, the 2025 Mets did not even remotely have a bad clubhouse.

This team was coming from a place in 2024 where the “OMG” Mets were a generationally good group. People focused a lot on Jose Iglesias’ role, but there’s also plenty to be said about what veterans like J.D. Martinez and Adam Ottavino did to steady that room. Sean Manaea was healthy for the whole season and could also play more of a leadership role. Then, when the winning started, it was just a good vibe that everyone could rally around. You don’t see that type of thing often, and it can be difficult to carry over from season to season, both because of personnel changes and the reality that things simply can’t always be the same. I give the 2025 Mets credit, from the jump, for not trying to recreate “OMG.” Every team has its own identity.

Unfortunately for the 2025 Mets, they never quite found theirs. Is there truth to the notion that Soto likes to keep to himself? Yes. Is there truth to the notion that Lindor enjoys outside pursuits such as fashion? Of course. That doesn’t make Soto a bad person, nor does it imply that Lindor is less than fully committed to his work on the field. The fact that those two and McNeil aren’t best friends also means nothing within the context of winning baseball.

The takeaway is this: The 2025 Mets didn’t have the magic of the 2024 version of this team. But it wasn’t a bad clubhouse by a long shot, and I’d put any sort of palace drama pretty far down the list of reasons why the team missed the playoffs.

Does it really make sense to give up on Kodai Senga, who was their No. 1 starter and had confounding stuff for his first stint? I know he looked horrible for the second half of last year, but I'm wondering why you’d sell low on him.

I think you only sell low if the perception is you’re not selling low. What I mean by that is the interest in Senga around the league would need to be real -- not teams trying to get him for pennies on the dollar, but teams saying, “Hey, this stuff is legit, we can fix him, we’ll give up some real value to get him.” Whether that sort of suitor actually exists, I can’t say. But that’s the idea.

What are your thoughts on the Mets losing Edwin Díaz to the Dodgers?

[Note: This response has been edited in light of the Mets' three-year agreement with Devin Williams, which happened hours after the AMA was posted.]

Until the Mets signed Devin Williams, I had been consistent in saying I’ll believe David Stearns will pony up huge money for a reliever when I see it. He just did so, guaranteeing Williams $51 million, and Mets sources were clear afterward that a deal for Díaz -- who could cost twice as much or more -- remains possible. Still, sinking that much money into a pair of relievers would break from what’s appeared to be a career-long philosophy: Don’t invest too many dollars in the bullpen, regardless of how good said relievers are. Tack on the fact that Stearns has already demonstrated a willingness to be unsentimental, and it becomes clear to me that re-signing Díaz is no sure thing. Williams protects the Mets in the event that Díaz signs elsewhere. And if Díaz doesn't re-up in Flushing, I’d have to consider the Dodgers a favorite to grab him, if for no other reason than that they are the Dodgers.

What’s your boldest prediction for the Mets offseason?

I think they make a blockbuster trade for an ace. I want to be clear that this isn’t reporting -- it’s just a hunch based on everything that's happened over the past year and some of Stearns’ public comments about things needing to be different. I could be dead wrong. But I see it as the clearest way to improve this team and one Stearns is open to pursuing.

Are the Mets actually serious about pursuing Tatsuya Imai/do they think he can do well in MLB? Or is it one of those things where only if the price is right? I think personality-wise he is perfect for NY with a strong passionate/bulldog mentality. But what do the Mets think? Or is it more likely someone else or a trade?

I don’t know the intimate details on how the Mets view Imai specifically, but this is a market they've spent a lot of time and resources developing in recent years. They’ll have a clear read on Imai and what they believe he’s worth. (I also love those recent comments he made [about wanting to beat the Dodgers rather than join them], which I assume is your reason for digging the personality.) But to be clear: I see a pursuit of Imai, who profiles more as a mid-rotation starter, as separate from any pursuit of an ace.

What’s one thing about the Mets’ offseason strategy -- either from front office direction or internal evaluations -- that you think most fans are underestimating or missing?

I don’t know if fans are necessarily missing this, but I thought -- from a baseball perspective, anyway -- the Brandon Nimmo trade was a masterstroke. To create that sort of flexibility to open the entire galaxy of free agent outfielders for the Mets, while also improving team defense and getting out from under the (likely) worst part of Nimmo’s contract? All while even saving a bit of cash? That’s a good move. I get why people are upset at losing Nimmo. Hell, I’m upset at losing Nimmo, who was great for those of us in the media. But from a baseball perspective, it just makes a ton of sense.

Who is a target free agent that no one is talking about that the Mets may pursue?

Is there such a thing as a free agent no one is talking about?

I’ll try to give you two, both on the relief market: One is Michael Kopech, who is the exact type of huge stuff, huge upside, buy-low candidate Stearns has historically favored. Another is Pete Fairbanks, who didn’t seem to get a ton of buzz when the Rays surprisingly declined his option. He should have. He’s really, really good. Either would fit well into the Mets’ bullpen.

Would love to know more about the personalities in the clubhouse. Most approachable? Funniest? Most social? Most thoughtful comments? Unlikely best friends?

On the current team, Manaea stands out as being extremely kind and approachable. Francisco Alvarez is the funniest. Mark Vientos makes me laugh, too. I enjoy the Alvarez and Brett Baty friendship ... those two guys come from very different backgrounds but really love each other. I’ll miss Ryne Stanek, who was great for a thoughtful comment. Clay Holmes is pretty good in that regard, too. I also have enjoyed getting to know Soto. I find the way he thinks about baseball fascinating.