A move the NY Mets still need to make to win back (some) doubters

Some fans will never trust David Stearns. His approach with the New York Mets is…different. After the way things went in 2025, he lost the benefit of the doubt he gained in 2024.

Impatient fans are ready to run him out of town. Sensible ones are waiting before they pass judgment. Whichever side of the line you fall on, there’s still one thing left for him to do in order to win back at least some of the doubters.

The Mets still haven’t spent the money they offered to Edwin Diaz

Since D-Day (the D standing for Diaz), the Mets have brought in Luke Weaver but on a far less expensive deal than the $66 million over three years with deferrals they offered to Diaz. At 2 years and $22 million, the Mets saved $11 million for the 2026 payroll they would have otherwise spent on Diaz.

There aren’t too many $11 million relievers left in free agency. Pete Fairbanks, who got $13 million from the Miami Marlins, was the priciest one left, but with a chance to close with the Mets’ NL East rival, he sets himself up better for a large payday next offseason.

No individual free agent reliever would win back fans who’ve lost faith in the front office’s currently assembled bullpen. It would require a trade or two players to come close.

We have yet to see the Mets and San Diego Padres pull off their blockbuster trade of the offseason. Not much headway has been made or updates to how those negotiations are going. Since those rumors began to headline the MLB Hot Stove, the Mets added Weaver and the Padres re-signed Michael King. The two clubs are still a superb match for a deal with players like Nick Pivetta, Adrian Morejon, and Ramon Laureano being three that immediately answer a Mets roster question. It’s Morejon or any of the other relievers they land who’d have to be the added bonus with Diaz out of the picture.

Adding a player like Morejon won't satisfy fans who are unfamiliar with him. Frankly, much of anything Stearns does for the remainder of the offseason will probably slant one way or another in the eyes of fans depending on how they already feel.

As fickle as bullpens are, the Mets are at least one arm short of feeling like a team that has a capable relief corps. We’d be wrong to not question Devin Williams as the closer. Weaver raised some alarm bells last year with the New York Yankees. The health of A.J. Minter and Adbert Alzolay should have us wondering if either are ready to begin the season.

Hits and misses with the bullpen along the way, Stearns has his work cut out for him when it comes to delivering that one immediately satisfactory piece.