Was David Stearns successful in making the NY Mets more athletic and stronger defensively?

David Stearns, the New York Mets' president of baseball operations, has stated that the team needs to become more athletic, emphasizing the importance of depth and the need to improve the team's overall athleticism. He has alluded to that concept in many interviews over the last year or so.

Stearns has operated cautiously and meticulously in the way he was accustomed to in a much smaller market, with the grandeur of being able to spend when needed, hence, the huge contract to Juan Soto.

But even with that big signing, was Stearns able to accomplish his main goal of making the giving the Mets more depth through athleticism?

The New York Mets are not a very good defensive team, nor are they very athletically talented

Stearns makes it a point to say that fans shouldn’t compare the Mets to any other organization, specifically the Los Angeles Dodgers, that the Mets need to create their own identity. And creating that identity means utilizing the assets within the organization and making strategic moves that are advantageous to making the team more athletic and creates more organizational depth.

OK, so while not comparing the two organizations, let’s use the Dodgers as an example. The Dodgers have a player like Mookie Betts who was a star with the Boston Red Sox beginning at the age of 21. Betts was an exciting and dynamic player and was mainly in centerfield. Then he played some right field. And even filled in a bit at second base. It never affected his offense and he never, ever, complained about moving around. Oh, and he never gave up anything on defense at any of the positions.

When Betts was acquired by the Dodgers, he was thought to be the everyday right fielder for the next decade. But, as fate would have it, the need would arise and Betts would be a centerfielder, second baseman, and even starting shortstop. He remained consistent offensively and defensively throughout.

The Mets have a very talented and athletic player and that is Francisco Lindor, regardless of the fact that he committed two errors in one game, one of which led to the deciding runs in a Mets loss to the Marlins.

Lindor is multi-faceted and well-rounded on offense, just like Betts. Although he doesn’t play multiple positions like Betts, he does play probably the best shortstop in the National League. So moving HIM around wouldn’t be advantageous for the Mets.

But the Mets don’t have that guy who is a star that can be plugged in anywhere the need is so that another position player can be brought in to supplement an already powerful lineup.

For example, Mark Vientos had a breakout season in 2024. But the jury is still out on whether or not he is a Major League third baseman or would be best suited as a DH. Brett Baty, the best of the lot at third base, is playing second base in the absence of Jeff McNeil, and the experiment of Baty playing second is still undetermined this early on, as is his ability to hit during the regular season. And Pete Alonso, as much as he has improved, has never been fleet afoot around the bag and has never been known to make people forget about Keith Hernandez or John Olerud.

The outfield is not good defensively at all. Brandon Nimmo is average in left field with a below average arm. He worked so hard to make himself a better centerfielder but he was not going to make anyone forget about Tommie Agee or Carlos Beltran. And so he was shifted back to left field where he is no Cleon Jones or Kevin McReynolds. So it’s not like he is being made an asset by moving him.

Centerfield? Well, for the second consecutive year the Mets brought in someone who can cover a lot of ground and make up for what’s on either side of them, but who will make Mets fans nuts about the lack of hitting. Even Don Hahn and Bruce Boisclair were more reliable at the plate.

And then there’s the big prize in right field, Juan Soto. Will Soto hit enough to make fans forget the miscues in the outfield? Or will Soto quickly become the Mets’ version of Giancarlo Stanton and be the richest DH in baseball?

Depth? The Mets are limited in what they can do and who can play where. Athleticism? Well, it’s the same thing, the Mets are limited and with the exception of Lindor, and an aging Starling Marte, there aren’t a lot of “athletic types” that make the Mets a better defensive team on the field.

And I am sure a lot of fans will get defensive about that too.