Free agency begins now as David Stearns is faced with a big test this winter

Stearns will have to get comfortable being uncomfortable this winter if he is to get the Mets train back on the rails

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• The Mets have interviewed Padres third base/infield coach Tim Leiper for an unspecified position (Athletic)

• Red Sox director of pitching Justin Willard is considered the favorite for the Mets vacant pitching coach job (Athletic)

• INF Pete Alonso officially opted out of his contract for 2026 (NY Post)

• RHP Edwin Díaz opted out of his deal and is now a free-agent (Athletic)

• LHP AJ Minter opted in for 2026, exercising his $11 million player option for 2026 (MLB Network)

• Juan Soto was named a top three finalist for the NL MVP Award

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David Stearns is going to have to get out of his comfort zone, starting now ✍️

Photo courtesy of the NY Post

As the Mets get set to embark upon an offseason that will be highly scrutinized after what was a disastrous collapse that saw them miss the playoffs entirely, one theme stands out for me.

President of Baseball Operations David Stearns is going to have to find a way to get out of his comfort zone. In two instances specifically.

Let’s start with what once again will be a main story of the Mets winter.

The free-agent status of all-star first baseman Pete Alonso.

We certainly learned last offseason that Stearns was willing to dig his heels in on the fact that giving a 30+ year old power-hitting first baseman was not prudent. He gambled—and ultimately won—on Alonso not finding the deal he wanted elsewhere and ultimately coming back on a massively team-friendly deal.

He won’t get that lucky this time around. To Alonso’s credit, he didn’t pout about his disappointing free-agent experience and delivered arguably the best season of his career.

Playing in all 162 of the Mets games—for the 2nd consecutive year, by the way—the Polar Bear slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 homers, 126 RBI, and a National League high 41 doubles.

He was one of the best offensive players in baseball from opening day on, and even with alarming defensive metrics at first base, Alonso is going to be paid handsomely this winter.

And the contract he signs should absolutely have a New York Mets letterhead at the top.

We get it, this goes against Stearns’ internal beliefs. But what Alonso represents to this team, this city, and this fanbase cannot be measured with analytics. Signing him long-term would be a welcome sight for everyone invested in this outcome and ensure that the big right-handed slugger will ultimately hold most of the Mets’ all-time offensive records, and that #20 will end up in the rafters when he’s done.

There’s also Edwin Diaz’s situation. He opted out of the rest of his contract on Monday, as expected. He is once again one of the best closers in the sport, the Mets are unquestionably better with him than without him in the short and medium term, and it’s hard to see them seriously pursue a championship without a pitcher of his ilk. But, he’s going to be 32 next season, and if he’s seeking a five-year deal at record money for a closer, that could be a tough pill for the Mets to swallow long-term.

That’s another test of Stearns’ comfort zone.

The other thing I think Stearns needs to recalculate is his stance on starting pitching procurement.

He’s made it clear both with his press conferences and his moves at the helm of the Mets front office that he does not wish to give out long, lucrative deals to pitchers.

However, after what we all just witnessed on the mound in 2025, I think we can all agree that needs to be rethought.

The Mets’ starting pitching was a train wreck for most of the season, and while they’ve got an exciting crop of young pitchers coming up, they need a proven ace.

Tarik Skubal is the name you’re going to hear a lot about, and it’s a situation that would hurt Stearns in more ways than one. He doesn’t like to trade his top prospects, and he doesn’t like to hand out massive pitching contracts like the one Skubal would require.

There are others. Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, Freddy Peralta, just to name a few. They’re all good, they all solve the Mets’ problem, and they will all require key prospects going back to their respective clubs.

But is the goal to win or is it to prove your way of thinking is superior and simply prospect hoard? Some prospects are destined to help the Mets, others are destined to help other clubs through trades. That’s the nature of the business of sports.

And, if you don’t win, and you don’t win in the way the Mets didn’t win in 2025, you’re not as smart as you think no matter what.

To me, Stearns simply must shake some of his beliefs he developed in Milwaukee, get more comfortable operating a big market enterprise, and pull the trigger on a pair of moves that he might not like, but will be best for this franchise in the long run.

Risk is part of the game. And its time for Stearns to take a few big chances in the market and get the Mets back not he right track.

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Around the League 🚩

• Alex Bregman opted out of his contract with the Red Sox (Boston Globe)

• Mitch Garver’s mutual option with the Mariners was declined, making him a free-agent (MLBPA)

• The Royals have declined the mutual option on RHP Michael Lorenzen and instead issued him a $1.5 million buyout that makes the veteran a free-agent (MLB)

• OF Cody Bellinger opted out of his contract with the Yankees (NY Post)

• Padres closer RHP Robert Suárez opted out of his contract (NY Post)

• Padres RHP Michael King opted out of his contract (SD Tribune)

• Walt Weiss was named the new manager of the Braves (release)