New York Mets: 2026 World Series prediction should be music to fans’ ears

The emergence of the Steve Cohen-era has the New York Mets in a prime position to contend for a World Series championship. In just a few short months, the franchise has completely revamped its roster through the addition of stars such as Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco, James McCann, Marcus Stroman (re-signed), and Trevor May. The team is also among the top contenders for 2020 Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer and Gold Glove centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

This infusion of star power has Mets fans dreaming of an NL East pennant as early as 2021. In fact, if things break right, the team appears to be one of the few with an inside track to a World Series berth.

While the future is indeed bright, New York may be a bit further away from capturing its third World Series title in history. In fact, a recent article by MLB.com projected the championship teams for each of the next ten seasons.

The Mets Projected Fate

On the positive side, the National League is expected to win four of the next five World Series. On the negative, the Mets are nowhere to be found on the list of top contenders from 2021-2025.

The Dodgers are slated to win two titles. One goes to the Padres. And one goes to the (wait for it…) NL East rival Braves… Talk about pouring salt in our wounds.

However, the 2026 season finally gives the franchise a massive reason for optimism. During this projection, the Mets make their first appearance in the championship series. Even more excitingly, the team is given the edge over their crosstown rival New York Yankees.

Obviously, these standings are rooted in speculation and personal opinions. However, the idea of the Mets winning it all in 2026 leads to two important observations.

Properly Defining Success

The launch of the Cohen-era has involved so much pomp and circumstance that many Mets fans and analysts have placed sky-high expectations on the franchise this season. Considering the team’s aggressive offseason, these expectations are merited.

However, there is a real chance that the roster will take some time to develop and mesh. While dreams of rings dance in our heads, there is a chance (even a likelihood) that the Mets may not appear in the World Series this season. They may not even win a hyper-competitive NL East.

This does not constitute as a failure. Most title teams tend to develop in a slow cooker rather than in an oven. Fans of the team should hope for big things in 2021. But they should also be wary of placing too much emphasis on a single season.

Playing the Long Game

Barring an unforeseen collapse, Cohen and his checkbook appear to be around for the long haul. This allows the Mets to approach their planning as more of a marathon than a sprint.

This is incredible news for anyone with a rooting interest in the Amazing Mets!

If New York has been able to build a serious contender in such a short amount of time, imagine what the long-term future could hold. How much more talent can Cohen and company add over a full offseason and trade deadline? What about half a decade’s worth of them?

By the time the year 2026 rolls around, the Mets could have developed their own version of an “evil-empire” that could rival even the hated Yankees. In fact, with the wealthiest owner at the helm, they may even surpass them.

The Mets’ crosstown rival has been lamented for years because of their tendency to “buy championships.” Now, as things settle into place, the blue and orange NYC team could finally have their chance to build their own brand of dominance.

Conclusion

I, like you, hope that the Mets can accomplish historically great things in 2021. I hope that the franchise can immediately establish itself as a top-tier contender that finishes the season with jewelry and banners.

However, not all is lost if the process takes longer than one season. As this MLB.com article reminds us, the Mets have the ability to bide their time as they seek to take the league by storm.

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