Steve Cohen backs David Stearns, but acknowledges Mets “took too much risk” in the offseason

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said he remains firmly committed to club executive David Stearns, even as he pointed to mistakes from earlier in the year. Cohen’s comments came after the Trade Deadline passed on Aug. 3 and New York continued to play with more consistency, entering Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres following a 10-4 run.

Cohen framed the season’s middle stretch as both a test of Stearns’ leadership and a lesson in adapting when plans do not fully work out. He told reporters that he is “committed to David” and intends to “move forward,” adding that he believes Stearns is smart, adaptable, and willing to learn from errors rather than double down on a flawed plan.

At the same time, Cohen did not paint the offseason as a flawless process. He said the Mets “took too much risk” during the offseason, suggesting that earlier roster decisions carried a higher-than-necessary downside. The remarks imply a philosophy shift from before the deadline, when the club was trying to accelerate its timeline through moves that, in hindsight, may not have landed as intended.

One of the ways Cohen described the club’s progress is through the development and integration of younger players. He highlighted two rookies, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, as examples of the kind of growth the Mets have leaned on since the deadline. In Cohen’s view, the organization has been able to get value from younger contributors rather than relying solely on older, more established options.

The timing of Cohen’s comments matters because the Mets are now past the deadline and in a phase where front-office decisions cannot be immediately reversed. While trades and additions can still reshape the roster, the bulk of the major midseason course corrections were made by the Aug. 3 deadline itself. Cohen’s public endorsement, paired with his offseason critique, sets a clear message internally: results matter, but the organization also wants a more controlled approach when building toward future competitiveness.

For Mets fans, the comments arrive with a practical storyline attached. If New York’s recent success continues, it will strengthen the case that the club’s best path forward may involve combining veteran decision-making with clearer guardrails around risk. Conversely, if performance dips, Cohen’s admission about the offseason could foreshadow a more aggressive recalibration heading into next year’s roster planning.

Wednesday’s matchup with the Padres also provides an immediate measuring stick for how sustainable the Mets’ post-deadline form is. San Diego’s presence in the game adds urgency to the moment, because the Mets’ recent run has not occurred in a vacuum. What Cohen said about Stearns and the club’s offseason risk tolerance will be tested most directly by whether New York can keep producing with the same mix of experience and youth.