It may be up to Steve Cohen to decide which NY Mets players are cut next

David Stearns “calls the shots” when it comes to the player movement up and down, in and out. It’s Steve Cohen who wears the biggest pair of New York Mets pants at Citi Field.

The billionaire owner of the Mets, who once could do no wrong, has been less involved this season than ever before. It’s not for the best or worst. He has taken a more hands-off approach since his first year in 2021. We get an occasional tweet or interview. For the most part, he has been absent from the spotlight outside of front row tickets at some New York Knicks games.

The Mets have yet to make any significant roster cut in 2026 where dead money was created. That decision seems fully on Cohen who’ll have to pick up the bill.

It’s feeling like Steve Cohen has significant say in the Mets roster without saying a thing

$25 million owed to Sean Manaea this year and next is the most significant payroll fiasco the Mets are dealing with. Kodai Senga, at $15 million this year and next, feels harsh yet escapable. If he sits on the IL for the rest of his contract, the Mets may be better off for it. Cohen’s wallet, on the other hand, isn’t.

Normally a team might have available space to allow for a starting pitcher with a contract like Manaea’s to try and figure it out in the bullpen. But because David Peterson is having a dirty, rotten year as a starter, they now have two lefties making over $30 million combined as “bulk” options. Manaea is far further behind Peterson in terms of effectiveness. Peterson has at least done well in his 3 or 4 innings at a time as a reliever.

The Mets can “easily” DFA Peterson and eat the remainder of his $8+ million owed to him this year. It’s far more complicated with Manaea and Senga. That’s a big chunk to toss aside. No trade partner would realistically take on any significant portion of the salary. If the Mets are willing to eat most (or all) of the money owed, maybe they do find a trade partner for Manaea or Senga when healthy. Hold your laughter.

Cohen has already greenlit the Mets trading or releasing players with significant money owed to them. Most creatively was the 2023 trade deadline when they picked up “better” prospects in exchange for Justin Verlander as well as Max Scherzer. James McCann was a salary dump as was Jeff McNeil. Frankie Montas’ injury is less relevant as his Tommy John surgery would’ve shelved him anyway.

The situation remains different with Manaea and Senga whose contracts extend beyond the current year and their value will make a bag of dirty baseballs snicker. The obvious baseball decision is for the Mets to move on from Manaea and Senga. However, with the biggest punishment being on the financial side of things, it’s going to take the owner paying them to go away in order to make it happen.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow