Full Breakdown
Mets Owner Steve Cohen Declares He Will Retain President David Stearns
7/1/2026, 9:00:24 PM
Commitment to Retaining David Stearns
Mets owner Steve Cohen told “The Show” podcast that David Stearns will stay as president of baseball operations for the remainder of his five-year contract, despite recent on-field struggles and the firing of manager Carlos Mendoza.
Background & Recent Performance
Stearns began his tenure three seasons ago; the Mets are 208-202 under his leadership and face a second straight postseason miss. A four-game sweep by the Cubs dropped the team to 34-47, leading to Mendoza’s firing and Andy Green’s interim appointment.
Personnel Moves and Performance Data
The offseason added pitcher Freddy Peralta (4.53 ERA in 17 starts) and reliever Devin Williams (4.13 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 12 saves). Shortstop Bo Bichette, on a three-year, $126 million deal with opt-outs, is hitting .251/.678 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs. Injuries have limited Jorge Polanco to 14 games and Luis Robert to 24 games (.224, 2 HR). Francisco Alvarez was hit by a pitch in recent action.
Official Statements from Steve Cohen
Cohen described Stearns as thoughtful and incredibly thorough, saying he values a leader who can reflect, adapt, and stay flexible when results falter. He described himself as a hands-off owner, warning that interference harms performance. Cohen said he is conducting a deeper dive into the season and, while ruling out any immediate removal of Stearns, indicated that continued poor performance could trigger a reassessment at the contract’s end.
Criticism & Opposition
Fans and commentators have criticized Stearns for offseason moves that have not yielded expected results, pointing to Bichette’s underperformance and the injury-laden roster. The firing of Mendoza intensified scrutiny of Stearns’ roster construction and strategic decisions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources confirm Cohen’s intention to keep Stearns but do not specify concrete performance metrics or a timeline for the promised “deeper dive.” The lack of detailed criteria for future evaluation creates uncertainty about how and when potential changes might occur.
Verbatim Quotes
- “David’s a thoughtful — in my conversations with him, he’s incredibly thorough,” — Steve Cohen, Mets owner
- “Listen, I’m going forward with David as our leader,” — Steve Cohen, Mets owner
- “But the change that’s not going to be made is moving David out at this point. I’m just not going to do it. Now listen, if we get to year 5 and our performance continues to suffer, at that point everything’s fair game.” — Steve Cohen, Mets owner
- “But the change that’s not going to be made is moving David out at this point. I’m just not going to do it. Now listen, if we get to year 5 and our performance continues to suffer, at that point everything’s fair game.” — Steve Cohen, Mets owner
What’s Next
Cohen said the organization will continue its deeper dive throughout the season, reviewing roster construction, coaching and front-office processes. No personnel changes are planned for Stearns before the contract expires, but Cohen indicated that a comprehensive review will inform any adjustments after the season and potentially at the five-year mark.
