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New York Mets GM David Stearns

New York Mets general manager and president of baseball operations David Stearns endures the heavy criticism lobbed at him by the Mets fanbase. The team sits under .500, far removed from the relevance and success that many envisioned. In the offseason, Stearns decided to retool the franchise, choosing new players to replace the team’s established core.

However, as the team struggles, the chiding increases. Yet, right or wrong, Stearns’ devotion to his management style earned the owner’s backing. Steve Cohen believes in his general manager. Currently, Stearns and the Mets face a difficult situation: While he built the farm system into one of the best in the MLB, players like Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Francisco Alvarez have not developed the consistency required to build a team around.

https://t.co/zQOZODxrsz Time to look at what we know of David Stearns’ formulas 1 1/2 years after Pete Alonso told him this: “When my career is being evaluated for the Hall of Fame years from now, you’ll still be fiddling with your [flipping] formulas.”

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 7, 2026

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Lack of Structure in Management Predates Stearns but Resonates

In a Q-and-A with The Athletic’s Tim Britton, the writer laid out the overarching issue.

“This is an area where the Mets have been hurt by their constant turnover in the front office. I mean, seriously: Since 2018, the Mets have employed seven heads of baseball operations. By reaching a third season, David Stearns is their longest-tenured lead decision-maker since Sandy Alderson stepped aside in 2018. This is a wild amount of change.”

Remember, Billy Eppler, Jared Porter, Zach Scott, and Brodie Van Wangeren preceded Stearns; the Mets could not find their way out of mediocrity. Both mismanaged the farm system and failed outright.

For example, in 2021, the team selected Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker with the No. 9 pick over current San Diego Padres standout Jackson Merrill. The year before, the team actually chose correctly in selecting outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. However, they traded the prospect for 167 at-bats of Javier Báez.

Meanwhile, Stearns rebuilt the farm system, one that withstood the losses of Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams for Freddy Peralta. However, the lack of development of hitters falls directly on Stearns. In essence, the Mets’ PBO can buy great ingredients but cannot make a good meal. First, looking at Vientos, you see a talented but flawed player. He flashed 30-homer run potential, hitting 27 two years ago in the regular season.

“The worst-case scenario playing out for pretty much every big acquisition the Mets made this past offseason and every bounce back candidate they had is mind boggling. But it’s a failure Stearns is going to have to own if things don’t turn around.”

David Stearns’ once-lauded… pic.twitter.com/SFsisimfcO

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 1, 2026

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Yet, he lacks range and athleticism at third base. Additionally, he struggles against elite velocity from pitches. Elite velocity is defined as pitches 94 miles per hour and higher, basically the four-seam fastball. According to Baseball Savant, in the last two years, his run value is minus-1. In other words, he struggles to catch up to the fastball on a consistent basis. Vientos will have a big game, then disappear for five games.

After five seasons, Baty struck out more times (300) than the number of hits (240). Five years and 1,048 at-bats tell the story of a player who can play decent defense at third base, but a lack of a batting eye hurts his output. Still only 26, Baty still has the time to improve. However, nothing suggests that he is well. Keeping him in the majors could’ve dulled his progress.

GettyMets INF/OF Brett Baty doubles against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a May 9, 2026 game.

Alvarez, much like the aforementioned two, has power, as his 25 home runs as a rookie attest. Yet, when the power does not show, his faults surface. First, he is a station-to-station runner with zero speed. Worse, he will swing at everything in his vicinity. Moreover, he is not a good receiver, as veteran backup Luis Torrens provides a better target.

GettyMets catcher Francisco Alvarez, striking out during an April 29, 2026 game against

While still young, Stearns needs to use the next couple of months to seriously evaluate them. Developing minor league players could be what helps turn the franchise around and make it a perennial threat.

Next weekend, the Yankees (26-12) visit the Mets (14-23) at Citi Field. Even if the Mets win every game before then & the Yankees lose every game, the Yanks will come into that series with a much better record.

Mets fans are disgusted by the lineups David Stearns is putting out… https://t.co/Y9bzkriJCT pic.twitter.com/8UDoHFITrj

— Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast (@tablesetterspod) May 8, 2026

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