Mets Owner Steve Cohen has one more problem to take care of

I get it. Steve Cohen doesn’t want to admit that he waited two years for something that wasn’t worth waiting for. He also wants to preserve his reputation around MLB and prove that he’s really not Bobby Axelrod, the “fictional” character from Billions. But there are too many coincidences between Cohen and Axelrod to list here. And what if Cohen was waiting for the wrong thing? He has one more problem he needs to take care of.

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Something clearly isn’t working for David Stearns in New York. After building a perennially strong team, but not a legitimate contender, despite a moderate budget in Milwaukee, Stearns is failing to continue that success with the Mets. Yes, 2024 was great, but how much of the credit for those teams goes to Stearns?

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Jun 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns speaks during a press conference before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. The club earlier today parted ways with manager Carlos Mendoza (not pictured). Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Last season had more of an imprint from Stearns, and his fingerprints are all over whatever you can call the 2026 New York Mets. To be kind, calling it a mess is likely a good start.

There’s simply not enough space, or reader bandwidth, to list all that ails the Mets. The season is littered by questionable transactions and decisions, and it’s hard to ignore the struggles on the field. Yes, there are some bright spots, but the season is over with three months left.

Yes, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor only played 13 games together this season, but the partnership also didn’t work last year. Some of the injuries, Luis Robert and Jorge Polanco, shouldn’t be surprising, and the decisions with the coaching staff last off-season were curious at best.

Jun 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; A fan holds up a sign referencing New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns (not pictured) during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. The fan was escorted away from his seat by security and police. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Other than trying to prove that he’s not a reactionary executive, what is the purpose of Cohen keeping Stearns? Did anyone really think that Robert and Polanco would stay healthy? Is Marcus Semien better than Brandon Nimmo? That Pete Alonso wouldn’t be missed?

The best possible explanation I can come up with for keeping Stearns is ego. That is ego on Cohen’s part, as you have to wonder how much influence he had on any of these moves.

Unless something changes, it’s hard to feel confident in the Mets moving forward. We are also now six years into Cohen’s tenure, and the benefit of time no longer exists. Make the move and realign yourself for 2027. Over the past three years, other than drafting Carson Benge, the signings of Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver is all that Stearns can hang his hat on. And that’s not good enough.

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