Mets' Playoff Hopes Hang in the Balance: Can Stearns' Team Close the Book with a Postseason Berth?
The Mets, facing an uncertain path to the playoffs in 2025, find themselves under immense pressure. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns bears the brunt of the responsibility as the team struggles to meet expectations with their high payroll.
Stearns Under Scrutiny
David Stearns acknowledges the scrutiny, understanding the volatile nature of the sport. The Mets' significant payroll, the second-highest in the majors, amplifies the pressure to succeed. His strategy hinges on the team securing a playoff spot, offering a fresh start to a season marked by underachievement.
“You can’t win a World Series,” Stearns said, “if you don’t get to the playoffs.”
The Mets, initially projected as World Series contenders, held a strong record on June 12, leading the NL East. While Steve Cohen invested heavily in talent, Stearns received praise for constructing a promising rotation. However, their early success has evaporated, leaving Stearns' moves at the trade deadline questioned.
The Rotation's Struggles
The team's biggest pre-season question mark, the pitching rotation, has become a major weakness. Injuries and performance decline have depleted the rotation’s depth, forcing the hasty promotion of rookies like Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat. The pitching lab is no longer a point of discussion, with survival now the focus.
Desperate measures, such as piggybacking Sean Manaea with Clay Holmes, highlight the rotation's struggles. Despite this, the Mets still plan to give Manaea another start. However, they are keeping their options open. In addition, Kodai Senga is nearing his return. The team's failure to acquire rotation help at the trade deadline has been magnified.
Trade Deadline Assessment
The trades made by Stearns have yielded mixed results. While Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers have provided bullpen upgrades, Ryan Helsley has struggled, and Cedric Mullins has underperformed. Since August 1, the Mets have one of the worst records in baseball, rendering Stearns' deadline moves largely ineffective, to this point.
“First of all, I’d say we’re not at the end of the line yet,” Stearns said. “There are potentially chapters yet to be written.”
Roundtable: Playoff Predictions and Expectations
Despite recent struggles, optimism remains about the Mets' playoff chances, with some believing they can make a deep postseason run. Here's what the team at MMO is thinking:
- Multiple contributors believe the Mets will sneak into the postseason.
- Some foresee a run to the NLCS or even the World Series, contingent on improvement in all areas, especially pitching.
- The pitching staff will need to showcase the levels of April and May for a deep run to come to fruition.
- Others predict a Wild Card series win but a subsequent exit in the Division Series.
- The team's schedule and position are seen as advantages, potentially offsetting inconsistent performance.
- The collective believes Lindor, Soto, and Alonso are capable of carrying the team.
- Overall, the Mets have a high ceiling but are wildly inconsistent, making predictions difficult.
Ultimately, Stearns needs the Mets to salvage their season with a playoff appearance to validate his vision.
