5 biggest mistakes the Mets have made since Steve Cohen took over as the owner

4) Biggest NY Mets mistakes since Steve Cohen took over: Signing James McCann

James McCann signed with the Mets on the same day Jared Porter was hired. McCann, a free agent in the same offseason as Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, signed a four-year $40.6 million dollar deal to come to New York.

This never made any sense from a pure baseball standpoint when you had an owner who has proven to be willing to spend almost whatever it takes to win.

McCann had a really good season in 2019, when a lot of other hitters did as well with the juiced baseballs being used. McCann hit 18 home runs and was an all-star for the White Sox. He then hit another 7 in just 31 games played as he split time with Yasmani Grandal in the shortened 2020 season.

McCann was always a good defender but never hit. That's why the Tigers gave up on him. He then had a solid year's worth of at-bats and for some reason, the Mets felt that it was a good idea to guarantee him four years when the best catcher in baseball required just five at a slightly higher annual value.

In his two seasons with the Mets, McCann slashed .232/.294/.349 with 13 home runs and 64 RBI in 182 games. His offense disappeared after showing up briefly and his defense wasn't good enough to avoid making him a roster casualty. McCann was traded to Baltimore this offseason and the Mets had to eat most of his contract to get them to take him. This idea never made sense and did not work from the beginning.