Buck Showalter’s comments prove he wouldn’t fit in with the 2026 NY Mets

The New York Mets had a pretty quick hook on Buck Showalter. After winning NL Manager of the Year honors in 2022, they moved on from him following the 2023 season. If there was little doubt he would have been a poor match alongside David Stearns, his comments on the Foul Territory podcast confirmed it.

At last count, the Mets had 71 players in camp, a number before Ben Rortvedt and Mike Tauchman. That’s a number that could still grow and by the end of spring training, the total number of bodies in St. Lucie has a chance to enlarge. Guys can come and go to give the Mets closer to 80+ although we should probably expect this to be about it.

Already 11 more than what Showalter staked as too many, it’s a battle of the old way of thinking and the way the current Mets operate where everyone gets a chance, roster spots are earned, and cuts aren’t something they’re afraid for anyone at any time.

Buck Showalter doesn't sound like he'd be a match for the Mets, or any team, in 2026

There is a reason why you have so many coaches, scouts, evaluators, etc. in camp. And it’s not as if many of the decisions are going to backfire quickly. Cutting Joe Jacques and sticking with Mike Bauman isn’t about to make or break the Mets season.

As appreciative as we can be of Showalter’s old-school style of thinking where the gut is more valuable than projected stats that someone who hasn’t thrown a baseball in 15 years can pass you, there isn’t a harm in sending out a lot of spring training RSVPs. Showalter seems to forget the evaluation of these players isn’t over the course of a short period. It would be like thinking Simon, Randy, and Paula were the only ones who decided who got on American Idol.

Buck Showalter wouldn’t be a match with David Stearns, probably not with Steve Cohen either

Upon the announcement by Steve Cohen that there won’t be a captain under his watch, Showalter couldn’t help himself but disagree.

We can’t really say he’s wrong because in terms of knowledge of how a baseball locker room works, Showalter would know best and Cohen shouldn’t be completely in the dark about it. This is a bit of a strange take by Showalter as the mere idea of naming a captain in baseball is a bit unneeded.

I hate to say it, but it feels like Showalter is just disagreeing with everything the Mets stand for.

Even David Wright doesn’t think the Mets need a captain based on the current dynamic.