Two Guys Talking Mets: From "Narco" to Narcolepsy

It's been a while since our resident curmudgeons awoke from their afternoon naps and weighed in on the latest in Mets land. But the events of the past few days got their juices flowing. So pull up a stool to the hot stove near the cracker barrel and join the conversation:

A.J. Carter: The sun came out this morning, and my electricity still works, so I guess the world didn’t end last night because the Mets lost Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso. And I’m not willing to keep on wringing my hands about what’s left of the Mets and what they’ll be like in 2026. But I am concerned about the process that led Alonso and Diaz to sign with other teams and what that bodes for David Stearns’ possible success in cobbling together a playoff-worthy roster. What worries me is that you would think that the Mets deserved the courtesy of a chance to match the last-best offer the players got from another team, giving their longstanding affiliation with the Mets. And part of me surmises that Stearns was banking on that, too – maybe explaining why the Mets never presented a formal proposal to Alonso. But both players (or their agents, but that’s a distinction without a difference) moved on without checking in with Stearns to see if the Mets would beat the offer. That tells me both wanted out more than they wanted to stay, and by extension, sent a message that the Mets and Steve Cohen’s money are not as desirable as we had thought. Do you agree, John?

John Coppinger: That’s certainly an arguable point, although I think that the situations are a little different. Stearns seemed willing to improve his offer to Diaz, while being cagey all the while on the prospects of Pete coming back, giving us all a hint with his talk about run prevention. But when you combine that with Brandon Nimmo’s comments where he said he waived his no-trade clause because the Rangers convinced him their goal was to win the World Series, it makes you wonder if he felt the Mets had different goals. 

In terms of cobbling together a playoff roster, I’m pessimistic. If you think of what the best case scenario might be, which is to sign two of Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman and Cody Bellinger, while swinging a trade for Tarik Skubal, it still seems like a consolation prize to me. And it’s unrealistic to think that they’re going to get two of those players to want to come to Queens. The clearest path to contention in 2026 was to bring back Diaz and Alonso. They’re both gone. With Robert Suarez heading to Atlanta, the relief options are growing scarce. It makes me wonder if this is going to be the true transition season, where Stearms signs some stopgaps until some of these kids are ready. I think you’ll see Carson Benge in left to start the season, with Jett Williams not being far behind, while Stearns signs a guy like Paul Goldschmidt to a one year deal to ease in Ryan Clifford at first. In other words, get ready for some short term pain.

A.J. Carter:  I’m not sure I agree with you that this was all part of some devious plan and that he wanted the two of them to go all along. Especially since fans and the media will not hesitate to remind Stearns of Cohen’s pledge to have a World Series in, what was it, five years (and this is year five). There are things going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about – yet. And I’m also looking at the coaching shakeup and Antoan Richardson – the one coach they wanted to keep – leaving because the Mets wouldn’t pay him what he wanted, either. To me, this sounds like it’s more than two players leaving for greener (or greenbacker) pastures. This smacks more of rats deserting a sinking ship. 

But to continue your thread on what Stearns can do now, I think the signature move is to sign Bregman and ask him to move to first – something I think he was willing to do last year with the Red Sox. The last time the Mets lost a first baseman they wanted to keep was in 2000, when they let John Olerud sign with his hometown team, Seattle. They signed a third baseman – Todd Zeile – and moved him to first. And they made it to the 2000 World Series. Goldschmidt isn’t the player he used to be, and besides, I heard he was retiring.

I think what we both agree on is that the Mets have to do something – quickly– to change the narrative. When the Braves lost Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers, they quickly pivoted to Matt Olsen. Stearns needs to take some sort of similar measure.

John Coppinger: But is there a similar measure out there? The similar measure was Kyle Schwarber. He was off the board before Alonso went to Baltimore. I do like Bregman and if he’s willing to play first base, he can add something to the clubhouse, whatever that means. (That’s frustrating too. The worst of the “clubhouse issues” we heard is that Juan Soto keeps to himself and just comes to work. That’s half of America!) But is Bregman an impact bat in the same way as Alonso is an impact bat? Not particularly.

And when it comes to rats off a sinking ship, the important question is “why is the ship sinking?” It wasn’t because of the core players. They were fine last season, and the Mets just lost two of them in two days (and another one a couple of weeks ago.) Was there really a problem in that clubhouse? Or is David Stearns framing this as a “run prevention” problem and a coaching problem to mask the fact that his acquisitions for 2025 outside of Soto had little to no positive impact? Let’s face it, he has put the pressure on himself to build something for 2026 and beyond. I think he can do one or the other, but both will be hard if he sticks to his strategy of no long contracts. It’s part infuriating, but part fascinating because I really want to see what kind of Houdini act he pulls here.

A.J. Carter: One quick response to your Bregman comment before we move on to pitching and Houdini acts: Bregman’s career OPS is .847. Alonso’s is .857. He projects as a 25 HR, 100 RBI type of guy – and he plays a lot better defense than Alonso. If Clifford comes along quickly and can take over first base, you move Bregman to the other side of the infield and have a Gold Glover at third.

But to get back your point, the real magic act is finding a starting rotation whose members average 35 starts and six innings a start. Do you bust your rules to sign Michael King to a long term contract, or deplete the farm system for Skubal – a deal I don’t make unless you immediately sign him to a long term contract. And let’s face it, for the most part Stearns’ talent evaluators haven’t been that good in finding hidden pitching gems. For every Clay Holmes, there is a Frankie Montas, and for every 2024 Sean Manaea, there is 2025 Sean Manaea.

Stearns may have to try being a magician, but instead of Houdini, he has come off as a loser on Penn and Teller’s Fool Us.

John Coppinger: Yeah, the starting pitching has to improve. But again, noting Stearns’ pattern, he might just be better off going with the young pitchers for a season. McLean is a stud, Sproat showed promise, and Tong’s stuff is so electric that you hate to give him away for a soft tosser like Joe Ryan, only to watch Tong thrive elsewhere. (Perhaps Tong can use his stuff and be an 8th inning guy for a season if things get dire in the ‘pen.) Manaea should come into ‘26 healthy, and if they don’t trade Peterson, he might be in a position to succeed after falling apart last season pushing his innings limits.

But they still need one more. How Stearns does it will be interesting. Robbie Ray has a year left on his deal with the Giants. He seems to be somebody that fits Stearns’ penchant for roster flexibility. Perhaps there’s something there in a trade. And I agree with you: You can’t trade for Skubal without signing him long term, just as the Mets did forJohann Santana after 2007. But outside of those two and King (who has to stay healthy), the options are a little bit sketchy. You might not see the amount of change that Mets fans are expecting.

A.J. Carter: If they don’t, the upshot will be, in classic announcer speak: “Plenty of good seats still available.” And Stearns will have to hope that Steve Cohen is too immersed in his casino bid to notice.

John Coppinger: I’d settle for Devin Williams’ entrance music not being sung by Sarah McLachlan.