The New York Mets are in last place. They are 14.5 games out of the division lead. Their postseason odds sit at a dismal 3.8 percent. Yet, as the front office faces its most intense scrutiny since Steve Cohen purchased the club, the owner has drawn a firm line in the sand.

Following the firing of manager Carlos Mendoza last week, speculation swirled regarding the future of president of baseball operations David Stearns. Cohen ended that talk on Wednesday. He is not firing Stearns. He is not even considering it.

"The change that's not gonna be made is moving David out at this point," Cohen told the New York Post. "I'm just not gonna do it."

This is a pivot toward patience. Cohen, who bought the team in 2020, previously set a three-to-five-year window to capture a World Series title. That clock is ticking. Despite the pressure, the owner is rejecting the "burn and churn" culture that has defined the franchise's past. He fears that constant upheaval will only make the organization less attractive to future talent.

"Is someone going to put their career in your hands if you're going to be short-term oriented?" Cohen asked. "We're going to live that contract out."

A Roster Overhaul That Failed to Launch

Stearns arrived in Queens with a reputation as a builder. He was the architect of the Milwaukee Brewers' consistent success, and Cohen spent years courting him. The 2024 season seemed to validate that pursuit, as the team made an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series.

Then came the 2025 collapse. The team cratered after a strong start, missing the playoffs entirely. The response was a total roster teardown. By January 1, the four longest-tenured players were gone. Gone were Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. Gone were Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.

Stearns pivoted to a new core. He brought in Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., and Bo Bichette. He signed Jorge Polanco to anchor first base. He rebuilt the bullpen with former Yankees arms like Devin Williams. The payroll remained the second-highest in Major League Baseball. The results, however, have been catastrophic. Injuries and underperformance have left the team with a 36-50 record at the start of July.

The Cost of Stability

Cohen is not blind to the failure. He admitted that the current situation has not worked out as planned. He acknowledged that Stearns has made mistakes. But he is betting that the alternative—firing the architect of the current roster—would be worse.

Stability is the goal. Cohen wants to build a machine similar to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a franchise that sustains excellence through long-term planning rather than reactionary firings. He believes that firing Stearns now would only reset the clock and alienate the next generation of baseball operations talent.

"Does he get any credit for '24?" Cohen asked. "Does that not count?"

Key Takeaways

  • Steve Cohen has publicly committed to keeping David Stearns as president of baseball operations despite the team's 36-50 record.
  • The owner is prioritizing organizational stability over the "burn and churn" management style that has historically plagued the Mets.
  • Stearns is currently in the third year of a five-year contract, and Cohen intends to let that agreement play out in full.

What happens next is the real test. The trade deadline is approaching, and the Mets are clearly sellers. Stearns will have to navigate a market where he is looking to recoup value for a roster that has failed to meet expectations. Cohen has given him the runway. Now, Stearns must prove that the vision he sold to the owner is still viable.