Let’s be honest. The New York Mets have been a mess this season. A total debacle. And when a team underperforms this badly, heads usually roll. Steve Cohen already fired Carlos Mendoza. For a lot of fans, David Stearns was next in line.
But Cohen made it clear: Stearns is staying as president of baseball operations. At least for now. And former Met Todd Frazier thinks that’s exactly the right move.
Stearns gets a vote of confidence
Frazier went on Foul Territory and got pretty direct about it. If Cohen really believes in Stearns, he said, then you back him publicly. Give the guy some breathing room. New York is a tough town. It’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of place. But Frazier says Stearns deserves at least one more year to turn this around.
“If he really believes in Stearn, this is what you should do,” Frazier said. “Give him a little peace of mind, whether you agree or not. I think he does. I don’t think he’s a liar. I think he deserves one more year, but New York is what have you done for me lately place.”
You can hear the weariness in his voice. Because he’s not wrong. The Mets were supposed to be contenders. Instead, they’re fighting to stay relevant. And when things go sideways, the front office takes the heat.
One more year, then what?
Frazier isn’t saying Stearns is infallible. He’s saying give the guy a chance to actually execute his vision. Stearns still has another year on his contract. Let him work. If next year looks the same, then fine. Maybe it’s time to move on.
“I would give him another year to see how that goes, even if he has another year on the contract,” Frazier said. “If it doesn’t transpire, then maybe it’s time to move on. If you’re Steve Cohen, make sure your guy knows that you have his back. Right now it’s just not looking good for this Mets team. It’s been a debacle. Somebody has to get the finger pointed at, and right now it’s him.”
That’s the reality. Stearns is the face of the baseball operations. And when a team this expensive plays this poorly, someone ends up taking the blame. Frazier just thinks it’s too early to pull the trigger.
Can Stearns actually fix this thing?
Honestly, it’s hard to see how. The roster has holes. The pitching staff has been inconsistent. And the trade deadline is on the horizon. But Cohen made his choice. Stearns will finish the season. He’ll try to get the ship pointed in the right direction.
Whether he can actually do it is another question. But for now, he’s got the owner’s backing. And at least one former player thinks that’s the right call.
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