This is a great time to take a look at Steve Cohen's 3-5 year plan for the NY Mets

When Steve Cohen took over the New York Mets ownership he said that the plan included the following:  build a strong organization (and he referenced the Dodgers), rebuild the farm system and management while putting a competitive product on the field, being relevant along the way, play important games in September, and win a championship in five years.

The Mets have concluded the fourth season of the Cohen regime. It’s been a bit up and down for a guy who is used to riding the waves of the ups and downs of the financial markets. The most recent memory is the Mets playing for a berth in the World Series. But a lot happened along the way to getting there, and to where we are now.

It all started with Steve Cohen trying to buy the rest of the New York Mets that he already had a stake in

Steve Cohen, already a minority owner and familiar with the Wilpon’s nonsense, had to go back and forth with the Wilpons, as Jeff was demanding to be kept on for five years. Can you imagine what that would have been like?

At the same time, Cohen was drawing attention to a fine his firm had to pay for insider trading. Owners around MLB were questioning his ability to be an owner. Those owners were so anxious to oust the Wilpons that they quickly got passed their apprehension and approved Cohen.

Almost immediately, although manager Mickey Callaway was fired for poor team performance before Cohen even took over, it is revealed that he had been sexually harassing women around the game for many years even prior to joining the Mets. So bad news hits before Cohen can even get an office in the building.

But let’s move along to the New York Mets revolving door of General Managers

Cohen inherited GM Brodie Van Wagenen but within hours fired him, in November of 2020.

Jared Porter, a former assistant GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was hired as general manager in December of 2020 and, after a month, fired by the club after the revelation that he had sent sexually explicit photos to a female member of the media.

Bring in Zack Scott, a former assistant GM of the Boston Red Sox. He was named to replace Porter. He lasted a bit longer than Porter. Eight months. Scott got himself arrested for a DWI on his way home from a party given by Steve Cohen. Scott was fired in September of 2021.

Sandy Alderson was brought back to the Mets front office to “fix” things.

Two months later, in November of 2021, Billy Eppler, former GM of the Los Angeles Angels, was hired. Almost two years later, in October of 2023, he would be forced to resign under allegations of inappropriately using the injured list to hide players who were not injured.

The New York Mets currently don’t have a “General Manager”

Alderson was acting as team president. But after the final game of the 2023 season, Cohen announced that he had hired David Stearns as the Mets new President of Baseball Operations. Stearns was always the original target. And Stearns has since acted as the “de facto” GM.

The New York Mets have had three managers in the dugout in four years

Cohen inherited Luis Rojas who was hired by Van Wagenen prior to the 2020 season. Rojas was considered a talented baseball mind and an up and coming manager. Unfortunately, Rojas was in over his head and was fired after the 2021 campaign.

Buck Showalter, who has always had a knack for building teams that become winners, was hired and, much to everyone’s surprise, led the Mets to a 101-win season in his first year with the club in 2022. But 2023 was a nightmare as every player under-performed and Buck was unceremoniously canned immediately after Stearns took over.

Stearns then hired New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza for the 2024 season. Mendoza piloted the Mets to a surprising 89-win season and a berth in the National League Championship Series, all after being buried early on 11 games under .500.

Steve Cohen’s money was not always well spent

Everyone knew that Steve Cohen would open up his wallet and open it wide…and he has. Since he has taken over the ownership of the Mets, there have been a number of free agent signings. Most of them have been of the less than earth-shattering nature.

The first noteworthy signing, before the 2022 season, was Starling Marte, the talented and athletic outfielder who had spent most of his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marte signed to a four-year, 78 million dollars contract. He has played well when healthy. However he has been hampered by injuries most of his time as a Met.

But then the Mets made a really big splash by signing future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer for a three-year, 130 million dollars contract. Scherzer was not always healthy and not really effective. He was not even close to being worth the $43 million a year allocated for one player.

Following the 2022 season, Brandon Nimmo was re-signed for an eight-year, 162 million dollars contract. While his home run totals have increased, his strikeouts have increased as well. And his OBP – on base percentage – was his biggest asset. “Was” is the key word. His OBP has dropped as has his batting average.

Then, of course, came the signing of Scherzer’s one-time rotation partner, and another future Hall of Famer, Justin Verlander, prior to the start of the 2023 season, duplicating the $43 million per year deal his buddy Max received. Verlander didn’t pitch the first half of the season and was sent packing, along with Max, at the trade deadline.

The results have thus far been mixed for the New York Mets under the Steve Cohen regime

The Mets went 77-85 and finished in third place in 2021.

The Mets went 101-61, finished in second place in the NL East, and were ousted in the Wild Card Series by the San Diego Padres in 2022.

The Mets went 75-87 and finished in fourth place in 2023.

The Mets went 89-73, finished in second place, and beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Series, beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series, and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series in 2024.

New York Mets fans have essentially gotten what they wanted. They wanted the Wilpons out. They got that. They wanted an ownership that was willing to spend money. They got that as well. They wanted a team that would be competitive and play in the post season. They got that too.

All that’s left is a championship. If everything goes as Steve Cohen planned, and promised, that should happen right about, let’s see, the 2025 season. That’s coming up next. So stay tuned.