Mets ownership letter to fans provides optimism for 2024 and beyond

Are you still watching? Normally I can be pretty judgey about these things, but if watching the New York Mets stumble their way to the glue factory is going to ruin the end of your summer, I can't really blame anyone who decides to see Barbie and Oppenheimer a second time instead of tuning in to see the Mets get bushwhacked again and again.

It can be difficult to compartmentalize the mixed feelings we have as fans. On the one hand, this season's picture can be found next to the dictionary definition of "dumpster fire," but on the other hand, there's a lot to be excited about going forward.

Waiting for a prosperous future that may or may not ever come is nobody's idea of a good time, and as my wife pointed out a couple days ago, "you haven't been wearing your Mets jerseys lately." This wasn't a conscious decision, but maybe deep down I don't want to run the risk of being Nelson Muntz'ed in the grocery store. That's how rough this season has been.

Steve and Alex Cohen understand the frustration of Mets fans. They're owning it, and they're trying to fix it.

To that end, they sent a letter out to season ticket holders this week to take accountability for this season from hell, while also attempting to assure Mets fans that brighter days are ahead.

I've seen many cynical takes online (unlike the one above) that see the letter as a thinly veiled bit of begging to keep supporting the team by buying tickets. Do you really think Steve Cohen is losing sleep over what next year's ticket sales will look like? He once bought a sculpture for $141.3 million. He knows that if the team is good, Citi Field will be rocking. If you build it, they will come.

After Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander spoke about their conversations with Cohen and Billy Eppler that led them to waive their no-trade clauses, people have been running wild with the idea that the Mets are rebuilding, i.e. punting on next season to acquire more draft capital and young talent.

Do you know why Scherzer and Verlander were told that? Because that's what needed to be said to get them to waive their no-trade clauses. The smart move for the Mets organization was trading two aging pitchers for three exciting, top-level prospects.

Is Steve Cohen going to be handing out $40 million AAV contracts to pitchers that are pushing 40 years old this offseason? Not bloody likely. He's already shown a remarkable ability to pivot when moves don't work out. Would you be shocked, though, if he threw $700 million at Shohei Ohtani and dared him to turn it down? No way.

As the Cohens outlined in their letter, the foundation of a strong team is already in place, and it's notable that they say the team will also receive "supplementation in the free agent market." The Mets aren't going to sit on their hands all winter and hand the ball to David Peterson and Tylor Megill twice every five days.

Even more notable is the mention of Pete Alonso as one of the "core group of experienced players" the Mets will bring back next year. To paraphrase Will Smith to all the trade machine ambulance chasers that can't wait to ship Alonso out of town, keep my first baseman's name out of your mouth.

Alonso is the best embodiment of what it means to be a Met since David Wright. In addition to the letter, Cohen also spoke about how much he and the organization value Pete when he addressed reporters in Kansas City. I have no doubt that the Polar Bear will be in Queens for a long time.

Mets fans should be grateful to have ownership that is accountable. The Cohens didn't purchase the Mets to turn a profit. They bought the team because they were already fans, and they want to win. Like a scaredy cat at a horror movie, we may have to watch the rest of this season with our hands half-covering our eyes, but better times are ahead. In the Cohens we trust.