David Stearns confident in Mets roster depth ahead of Opening Day: 'I like where we are, and now we've got to go and play'

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Mar 25, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — Opening Day always represents renewed hope, but for those hoping Wednesday’s New York Mets press conferences were scheduled to announce a contract extension with Freddy Peralta, well, you had better keep hoping. Peralta remains the gem of the Mets’ 25-26 offseason, but when he takes the Citi Field mound Thursday afternoon against Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates, the hope is for more than just an ace.

The hope is that the team put together by David Stearns will be able to withstand everything it couldn’t last year. That this team will be able to not just take a punch, but to deal blows to teams in the NL East. The hope is that the Mets team that lacked mental toughness when they needed it the most last season has learned to excel under the weight of expectations.

Mets fans desperately hope that after 40 years of waiting, this will finally be the year they don’t have to say, “Well, maybe next year.”

“It has definitely been too long,” Stearns said Wednesday at Citi Field. “I have zero memories of the Mets winning a World Series, right? The Mets last won a World Series when I was one year old, so it has certainly been too long. I feel that as much as anyone.”

Stearns is maybe the lone Mets fan who can do something about the title drought. A fan of the team growing up on the Upper East Side, Stearns is doing what every fan who screams at their TV or who types angrily into the online void dreams of doing by putting together the roster for the team he grew up rooting for. He has the power to hire and fire managers and coaches, and to trade players he deems unworthy of wearing the Mets jersey.

But with that comes immense pressure to get it right. The Mets’ baseball ops boss has been putting together rosters for a decade now with the Milwaukee Brewers and for his hometown team, so he knows better than anyone how difficult it can be to get everything right during a season so long it provides plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong.

“I like where we are, and now we’ve got to go and play,” Stearns said. “Nothing ever goes entirely as planned or expected; we all know that. Part of this six- or seven-month marathon is adjusting on the fly and keeping everything going. I think we’re going to be able to do that.”

Stearns is confident the Mets can withstand the unpredictability of a 162-game schedule thanks to roster depth.

Peralta highlights a rotation Stearns sees as deeper and stronger than last season. All six starters are healthy to start the season, leaving two pitchers who are good enough to be on Major League to open their campaigns in Triple A.

The lineup is long, with shortstop Francisco Lindor again at the top, and Juan Soto hitting second. Bo Bichette will protect Soto, with his ability to drive in runners on base meant to deter pitchers from walking Soto. Switch-hitter Jorge Polanco will bat cleanup with center fielder Luis Robert, a once-promising slugger, behind him.

The bullpen is highlighted by former Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees closer Devin Williams. Right-hander Luke Weaver and left-hander Brooks Raley, the longest-tenured pitcher in the bullpen, give the Mets high-leverage experience, while Tobias Myers will provide long relief and the occasional spot start. It’s a more versatile group of relievers than in the past.

“I’m happy with where we are,” Stearns ssaid. “I like the group we are. I do think we’ve improved the defensive side of the ball, especially up the middle. I think we’ve improved our positional versatility, which will allow [manager Carlos Mendoza] to mix and match a little bit throughout the course of the year. I like where our starting rotation is and I think, from a from a health perspective, we got through camp in a really good spot.”

The defense has to improve this season. Stearns spent the entire winter talking about “run prevention,” only to sign two players without any experience at their positions in the infield, Bichette (third base) and Polanco (first base). Robert has to stay healthy to stay in center field, and the Mets desperately need Soto to become the Gold Glove defender he believes he can be.

The optimism of spring is high with everyone at 0-0. It’s time to see if Stearns got it right this time, and if 40 years of hope will turn into joy come October, or heartbreak in September.

“We’ve got to be good, and the fun of a major league season is finding out when you’re going to do it,” Stearns said. “I think this team is certainly capable of it, and looking forward to watching it.”

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