In assessing the Mets’ brutal 74-win season, president of baseball operations David Stearns on Monday cited changes that went badly.
asserted
that → assess → changes
“We and I made a number of decisions that created the potential for almost an uncapped downside scenario,” Stearns said at Citi Field.
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Stearns → make → Field
“We had a lot of change.
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We → have → change
I think change in New York is probably different than change in other markets.”
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change → think → markets
Try it freeIn addition to overhauling the roster nucleus, Stearns implemented an almost entirely new coaching staff.
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Stearns → try → staff
The Mets got buried in the first three months of the season, and even a solid post-trade deadline showing couldn’t rescue the team.
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showing → bury → team
“My job is to put a winning team on the field every single year,” Stearns said when asked about the pressure he is facing.
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he → put → pressure
“That hasn’t changed.”
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That → change → ?
In a 32-minute session with reporters, he offered few specifics but acknowledged the starting rotation will be a point of emphasis.
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rotation → offer → emphasis
But with lefty ace Tarik Skubal looming as the top free agent, Stearns declined to say if he might be active in the top end of the pitching market.
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he → loom → market
“I do think it is necessary for us to add to our starting rotation,” Stearns said.
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Stearns → think → rotation
“We can do that in a variety of different ways.
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We → do → ways
You would always love to add to the top of your rotation.
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You → love → rotation
Any team would love to do that.
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team → love → that
Over the long term, what we need to do is develop pitchers at the top of a rotation, and I think we are proving we can do that, and we’ll continue to do that.
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we → need → that
Nolan McLean, after a strong rookie season, is a lock for the rotation, and homegrown options Christian Scott and Zac Thornton appear in strong position for spots.
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Scott → appear → spots
The Mets also have Sean Manaea under contract for another season and Kodai Senga as a starting or relief option.
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Mets → have → option
Tylor Megill will be returning from a season of Tommy John surgery rehab and could factor in either as a starter or reliever, according to Stearns.
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Megill → return → Stearns
- 47 Brand logo cap
- 1986 eco tote bag
- Mets fiber beach towel
- 14-ounce sculpted relief mug
- Customizable jersey
- Color block logo backpack
First base remains a jigsaw puzzle — Jorge Polanco will be returning from ankle surgery after his underwhelming first season in Queens, and Jared Young remains in the equation after a solid showing as a stopgap.
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Young → remain → stopgap
Stearns also mentioned Brett Baty — following his strong August and September — as an option to receive regular at-bats.
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Stearns → mention → bats
“Marcus [Semien] didn’t have the type of year offensively that he wanted, that we would expect,” Stearns said.
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Stearns → have → that
“Brett showed us our last four, six weeks of the season what his ceiling looks like, and we need him to get to that ceiling more consistently.”
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him → show → ceiling
Stearns said there are “really good minor league infielders knocking on the door.”
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Stearns → say → door
That list includes top prospect Jefferson Rojas and Émilien Pitre, who was acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline.
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who → include → deadline
“Sitting here right now, I’m not going to commit to what second base looks like next year,” Stearns said.
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Stearns → sit → what
“But I do think we’ve got some really good players both at the major league level and prospects that are coming that can make that a productive position for us.
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that → think → us
“Our goal is not to build the team through free agency.
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goal → build → agency
Our goal is to have a consistent pipeline of young talent that can consistently restock a team — they’re going to be selective, very aggressive pursuits.
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they → have → team
We have complete ownership support to make those selective, very aggressive pursuits, and I think we will continue to do that.”
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we → have → that
Stearns also touched on the front office composition following the addition last week of former Twins director of baseball operations Derek Falvey as a senior advisor.
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Stearns → touch → advisor
Falvey was in the team’s offices Monday to begin his new role, according to Stearns.
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Falvey → begin → Stearns
“Derek is one of the better executives in our sport,” Stearns said.
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Stearns → say → sport
“He’s got a tremendous amount of experience.
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He → get → experience
He’s touched every aspect of baseball operations over the course of his career around the business side in Minnesota as well.
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He → touch → Minnesota
So, I think he’s going to help us everywhere.
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he → think → us
He’s a great thought partner.
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He → ’ → ?
He can provide some different life experiences and different perspectives.”
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He → provide → experiences
The Aporia
