New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is at the midpoint of his five-year, $50 million contract, facing scrutiny as the team continues to underperform. The Mets recently fired manager Carlos Mendoza following a six-game losing streak that capped a disastrous season, leaving Stearns with $25 million remaining on his deal and signs pointing to his continued tenure.
Stearns was hired away from the Milwaukee Brewers in October 2023 on a contract that does not include an opt-out clause. The Mets have largely failed to meet expectations under his leadership, missing the playoffs in 2025 after an apparent collapse and starting the 2026 season with a 34-47 record. This trajectory falls short of the championship aspirations owner Steve Cohen expressed upon signing Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal in December 2024.
Critics have questioned whether the Mets are significantly better or better positioned for the future compared to two and a half years ago, pointing to Stearns' performance. His specialization in identifying overlooked talent, a hallmark of his success with the Brewers, has not yielded comparable results with the Mets. Despite the team's substantial payroll, several reclamation projects signed by Stearns have not panned out.
Notable examples include pitcher Frankie Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal but struggled with a 6.28 ERA in 2025 and was released with $17 million still owed. In contrast to his acquisition of Soto, Stearns faced criticism for allowing homegrown talents Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo to depart after the 2025 season. Alonso signed with the Orioles, and Nimmo was traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien, who has struggled offensively in 2026.
To address the departures, the Mets signed veteran Jorge Polanco, who performed poorly and suffered an injury early in the 2026 season. The pitching staff, which was a weakness in their 2025 season, has continued to be a concern. Players like David Peterson, Kodai Senga, and Sean Manaea, who were brought back or acquired, have struggled. Peterson was traded to the Cubs after posting a 6.09 ERA this season, Manaea has a 4.87 ERA, and Senga was moved to the bullpen after a 10.08 ERA through his initial seven appearances. The team also traded for former Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, who has also struggled.
With the team appearing no closer to achieving Cohen's championship goals, the responsibility for resolving the team's issues appears to rest with Stearns, as the clock continues to tick on his contract.