Mets’ Stearns says he gets no mulligans on Alonso exit

After the Mets finished 74-88 and last in the NL East for the first time in 23 years on a record $358 million payroll, president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked Monday whether he would have re-signed Pete Alonso knowing what he knows now. Stearns said that is a very fair question and that in this job he does not get mulligans. He recognized Alonso had a tremendous year and said Mets first-base production was not good enough. Alonso left on a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles, hit 43 home runs and 113 RBIs in all 161 games, and became the first player to win an RBI title in both leagues. Mets first basemen had 18 homers, 77 RBIs and a .667 OPS. New York allowed 731 runs versus 715 in 2025 as ERA rose to 4.15 from 4.03 and runs scored dropped to 699 from 766. Stearns said he would retire the phrase run prevention. Alonso drew standing ovations before every at-bat in the Orioles' sweep at Citi Field and a curtain call after his 300th homer amid Fire Stearns chants. Stearns called the end of the season miserable and said the organization is extraordinarily motivated to ensure it never happens again. No factual disputes found in the coverage. Soto credited Carson Benge and the young core for 2027 optimism.