The Reds and Mets are tied for the third wild card place in the National League after the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs 1-0 and the New York Mets lost 3-2 to the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Although both Cincinnati and New York have an 80-76 record, the Reds now have the tiebreaker for the last slot.
The Mets are no longer in charge of their own postseason fate. They have played terrible baseball for the past three months and had a 45-21 record at one point this season. The terrible roster construction by David Stearns is one of the reasons this team has been among the poorest in baseball. After this season, will this organization be able to let him go or not?
New York Mets David Stearns Has No Opt-Out in Five-Year Contract
Many fans were thrilled with what Stearns had accomplished with the Milwaukee Brewers when he accepted a five-year, $50 million contract with the Mets following the 2023 season. Due in large part to his roster design, New York is in danger of missing the 2025 playoffs. Despite the fact that many Mets supporters want him dismissed, owner Steve Cohen is likely to retain him on for another season.
This fan following would not be able to fulfill their desire even if they wanted Stearns to go. There is no opt-out clause in Stearns’ contract. He is probably going to stay with this club until the 2026 MLB season and maybe beyond. The fact that he does not have an opt-out throughout his five-year deal may not sit well with many supporters.
He will need to make better roster choices with this baseball team if they want to avoid missing the playoffs and retain him. Many of the signings and transactions were terrible. Stearns had no intention of keeping Pete Alonso on staff. Apart from the signing of Juan Soto, Stearns has had a memorable year.
The transactions involving Ryan Helsley and Cedric Mullins have not gone as planned. He will need to invest in beginning pitching if he is retained for one more year without being let go. They can’t depend just on their roster’s rookies. He will be remembered for his bad roster design this season, which is a fireable crime in and of itself. The Mets should have easily qualified for the 2025 playoffs.
