The Mets, 36-50 and last in the NL East, have already begun making changes in 2026, including the dismissal of manager Carlos Mendoza. President of baseball operations David Stearns, however, won’t be next.
Mets owner Steve Cohen made it clear that Stearns’ job is safe when he joined Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman on “The Show” podcast for an interview. In the full episode, which is slated to release on Wednesday, Cohen said Stearns will “live out” the remainder of his five-year contract, according to the New York Post.
“David is reflective and adaptable,” Cohen said. “We’ll figure out what changes need to be made, but it won’t be David.”
In Toronto for the Mets' series against the Blue Jays, Stearns declined to comment on Cohen's comments.
The Mets have disappointed this season despite making high-profile additions and changes to the roster this offseason, trying to supplement the signing of superstar Juan Soto one year ago. They saw star first baseman Pete Alonso sign with Baltimore in free agency and traded away franchise mainstays Brandon Nimmo (Rangers) and Jeff McNeil (Athletics).
In return, they signed Bo Bichette and traded for Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien, while also signing Jorge Polanco to shore up first base. Injuries and general underperformance have put a spotlight on that series of moves.
But it appears Stearns, who joined the Mets after a successful tenure with the Brewers, will still have time to continue to tinker with this roster and try to build a winner in Queens.
"We’re two and a half years into a contract," Cohen said. "Everyone forgets -- does he get any credit for ’24? Does that not count? We almost made it to the World Series. And that was just two years ago.
"It’s a mixed record. I’m not gonna say it’s going great, but it’s too early to really make evaluations. And I feel really strongly that if we’re going to burn and churn, that’s a terrible place to be. Every time you burn and churn, guess what, the next time, nobody wants to come. Is someone going to put their career in your hands if you’re going to be short-term oriented?
"I have a contract. It’s a five-year contract. And we’re going to live that contract out."