Steve Cohen backs David Stearns, insisting Mets president of baseball operations still has his full job security despite 2026 struggles

In the wake of another difficult season, the Mets owner told reporters he has put to rest questions about David Stearns’ standing with the club, while also acknowledging that Stearns’ offseason decisions have been tied to the problems the team has faced.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen moved to cool speculation about the job security of David Stearns on Tuesday, issuing a public vote of confidence for the team president of baseball operations even as the Mets’ 2026 performance has fallen short of expectations. Cohen’s message was direct: Stearns is not under immediate threat, and the organization intends to keep building with him in place.

Cohen framed his remarks as both reassurance and accountability. While he said any doubts about Stearns’ status are essentially finished, he also pointed to the reality that Stearns’ work from the offseason onward is part of why the Mets are struggling in 2026. That combination matters because it indicates the owner is separating personnel stability from performance results.

The Mets have spent much of 2026 searching for the right blend of roster construction and on-field execution. Cohen’s comments put the focus on how much confidence he still has in the front-office process, rather than suggesting that the organization will immediately pivot away from Stearns after a poor stretch. In practical terms, it indicates the club is willing to absorb another set of growing pains rather than making an abrupt leadership change.

At the same time, Cohen’s acknowledgement that Stearns’ offseason work has played a role in the team’s difficulties suggests the owner does not view the situation as purely the product of bad luck. In baseball operations, outcomes are rarely the work of a single move, but offseason decisions are where teams set their direction, so connecting those decisions to current struggles effectively raises the standard for what must follow next.

Stearns, who serves as president of baseball operations, has been responsible for overseeing major roster-building choices and the organizational strategy that those choices reflect. A vote of confidence from the owner does not erase performance questions, but it can influence the internal timeline for change, potentially shaping how quickly the Mets look to adjust at the roster level versus the organizational level.

For Mets fans, the clearest takeaway is that the franchise is indicating continuity in leadership. The next questions will be whether Stearns’ plan leads to measurable improvement, and how quickly Cohen expects results to arrive given that he linked Stearns’ offseason work to the 2026 challenges.

Why It Matters

Leadership continuity can affect how the Mets approach roster changes and long-term planning, since the organization indicates it is not rushing to overhaul top baseball operations.
By tying current struggles to Stearns’ offseason work, Cohen is raising expectations that any rebuilding plan must show progress soon.
The owner’s stance may influence how quickly players and staff view the front office’s timeline and priorities for 2027 planning.

Sources

Key Facts

Steve Cohen said he has put to rest speculation about David Stearns’ job security as Mets president of baseball operations.
Cohen simultaneously suggested that Stearns’ offseason work has been a meaningful factor in the Mets’ 2026 struggles.
The comments were framed as both reassurance of continuity and acknowledgement of the connection between front-office decisions and on-field outcomes.