NY Mets Monday GM: Cover up David Stearns, your sentimental Achilles' heel is showing

David Stearns only has one sentimental bone in his body. It’s located near the Achilles' heel deep within the tendon above that pointy part of the inner ankle. It hurts when he walks. Stretching in the morning is the only way he can get through his day. Even then, you can’t stay off your feet forever. There are no days off running the New York Mets. In three instances, Stearns’ one weakness has shown.

Often judged as a “genius” by his fans and discredited immediately by his naysayers, the truth with Stearns is nothing proprietary. He’ll make savvy additions while also swinging twice through on the same pitch. 

His quick trigger finger, at times, with players on the roster has been welcomed after what felt like a good chunk of time where Mets players were forced into the lineup to save ownership some cash or the front office from wearing egg on their face. Where Stearns has gone wrong consistently is getting sentimental about players who delivered in the postseason. We’re getting another reminder of this right now.

David Stearns is 0 for 3 when re-signing players who gave the Mets a strong playoff performance

Sean Manaea is sleeping outside at night right now. Two questionable outings this spring with decreasing velocity has him looking like the early favorite to be out of the rotation. It’s far more complicated than two bad spring outings. He missed the first half of last year and wasn’t very good when he did come back.

It’s easy to forget how although his 2024 numbers finished strong, there was a part of the season when he was more mediocre and often frustrating. He pitched well in the playoffs for the Mets. Only his final start raised a question. Everyone is allowed to have a bad day at work.

The Mets bought into his strong finish and success in the playoffs. They did the same with two others. Ryne Stanek, after a bad regular season, became one of Carlos Mendoza’s most trusted bullpen arms in the playoffs. He surpassed Phil Maton in reliability. He, too, was welcomed back. Exhaustively on the roster for the entirety of 2025, the reality set in. Stanek is good in spurts. You can’t trust him over a long sample.

Finally, there was Jesse Winker. He brought the energy. He had an amazing August followed by a vacant September. Some clutch moments in the playoffs had the Mets circling back to him in free agency. He didn’t hit much and an early injury landed him on the IL. As unimpressive as his time with the 2025 club was, it wasn’t all that much worse than what he did in 2024. In fact, his .709 OPS in 2025 beat the .683 from 2024.

Stearns didn’t have a chance to falsely buy into anyone because of their playoff showing this past offseason because the Mets failed to make it.