Flushing, N.Y.: New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns speaks to the media during the team's pre-opening day workout at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, March 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
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The New York Mets have followed up a disappointing postseason miss last year and a holistic roster overhaul in the offseason by emerging as the worst team in Major League Baseball.
Despite a top-tier payroll and a personnel group that reflects hand-picked additions by president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets have struggled in virtually every facet of the game so far. And while there’s plenty of blame to go around, a big portion seems to lie with the front office’s architect.
“In other words, Stearns went all in on the flop, and now the deck is stacked,” as Laura Albanese put it for Newsday. “Even on paper, the Mets don’t have a complete team. The pressure is overbearing and time is running out.”
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With a new group of players and new coaches surrounding manager Carlos Mendoza this season, Stearns’ offseason decisions are under considerable scrutiny amid the dismal season. And the questions around the executive are reaching further back as well, with a former two-time All-Star who once played under him taking the opportunity to dig up a sore spot from the past.
Last week, a clip surfaced of former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Jonathan Lucroy recalling Stearns and the Milwaukee Brewers front office leaking some trade news to the media during the 2016 season.
“One thing I said, and my agent told (Stearns), we told him if there’s a team on that no-trade list that you want to trade us to because you desire that package, come to us before you disclose it publicly, and if it’s something that works out good in my favor, I said I definitely will consider it,” Lucroy recalled on an episode of the “To The Majors” podcast. “So, what happened is, middle of the season, I get yanked from a game. After the game, I get called in the office. David Stearns looks at me and he says, ‘We just traded you to a World Series contending team.’ They hadn’t come to us, they hadn’t told us anything.”
Lucroy, who earned his second-career All-Star nod during the 2016 season, had played for the Brewers for six previous seasons before Stearns and the team’s brass sought to trade him. Lucroy had an extensive no-trade list and ultimately he vetoed the trade that Stearns attempted to execute with the Cleveland Guardians, then the Indians, who refused to promise Lucroy a primary catcher’s role for the next season.
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“Within 10 minutes, the story came out,” Lucroy said during the “To The Majors” appearance. “They leaked it on purpose to force me to say yes.”
Ultimately, Lucroy still chose to veto the trade that Stearns had negotiated with the Guardians and he was eventually dealt to the Texas Rangers instead. He went on to play there for two seasons, before bouncing around the majors for another four seasons, then retiring.
But even well after his playing days ended, it seems Lucroy still has a bone to pick with the Mets’ executive, particularly now that he’s under renewed pressure.
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