Amidst another disappointing start to the season, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has sparked speculation about the team's plans for the upcoming trade deadline. In a since-deleted social media post, Cohen suggested that "all [was] in the future" and "not much [could] be done until the trade deadline."
Despite another staggering payroll, the New York Mets find themselves struggling once again. After winning 101 games in 2022, the Amazins plummeted to a 75-87 record last season. This year, they are off to a mediocre 19-23 start.
Last year, the Mets had the highest payroll in baseball history, making them arguably the biggest disappointment in the sport. This season, the team has not generated much excitement, as new president of baseball operations David Stearns appears to be playing the long game, waiting for next year's stacked free agent class.
With New York off to another sluggish start and key players like Pete Alonso, Jose Quintana, and J.D. Martinez set to hit free agency, questions have arisen about whether the Mets will become sellers at the trade deadline. Last year, they traded away Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Mark Canha, and Tommy Pham.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has hinted that such a move could be in the cards. In a since-deleted post on X, formerly Twitter, Cohen replied to another post about possibly "[blowing] it up," suggesting that it was "all in the future" and there was "not much we can do until the trade deadline."
However, Cohen later dismissed the notion that this was a coded message indicating they would be sellers in the summer. "I believe in this team. I believe in the back of the baseball card. It’s way too early to speculate on anything. It’s May 16. I expect to make the playoffs," Cohen told SNY, the team's broadcast network.
"I know the fan base is frustrated, but it’s still early. We’re still very capable of making the playoffs. I fully expect to make the playoffs."
The Mets started the season 0-5 but briefly rallied by winning 12 of their next 15 games. Since then, they have gone 7-15.
Cohen took over control of the team before the 2021 season, purchasing the club from the Wilpons, who still own majority of SNY. Upon purchasing the club, Cohen famously said his goal was to win the World Series within his first three to five seasons. Next year will mark his fifth as the majority owner of the franchise.
While Cohen remains optimistic, the Mets' recent struggles have left fans wondering if the team will once again resort to unloading players at the trade deadline. The future of the franchise hangs in the balance, and Cohen's comments have only fueled speculation about a potential sell-off.
