The New York Mets’ offseason hasn’t been flashy, but it’s been quietly effective - a strategic reset that’s starting to look more like a blueprint than a consolation prize. While they didn’t land every big name they chased, the moves they did make reflect a front office that knows how to pivot and still improve the roster. Call it a B-grade winter at worst, an A-minus if you’re feeling optimistic - either way, the Mets are better today than they were when the offseason began.
This winter has marked a shift in tone from the previous two offseasons under David Stearns. In the past, the Mets moved quickly and decisively.
Think back to the 2024-25 offseason - they got their guys early, and even Pete Alonso, the marquee name they waited on, ended up re-signing in February. There was a sense of control, of calculated aggression.
But this time around, the script flipped. The Mets were active, aggressive, and, at times, reactive.
They didn’t land every target, but they didn’t stand still either. If you expected Stearns to play the long game, hunt for bargains, and avoid the splashy headlines, this offseason might’ve surprised you.
Because while the Mets didn’t dominate the market, they didn’t sit it out either.
Ironically, the kind of offseason many expected from Stearns is the one the Chicago White Sox just had.
Now, let’s be clear - the White Sox aren’t suddenly favorites to win the AL Central. But in a division that’s wide open, they’ve made the most noise. No team in the Central has been more active, and they’ve done it in a way that mirrors the Stearns playbook from his Milwaukee days: flipping expiring assets, targeting upside plays, and building depth without breaking the bank.
Case in point: the Luis Robert Jr. trade. The White Sox sent their longtime center fielder to the Mets - a classic Stearns-style move if the roles were reversed.
In Milwaukee, Stearns made a habit of trading away players nearing the end of their contracts to retool on the fly. With the Mets, he hasn’t had many chances to do that - most of the obvious trade chips were already dealt before he arrived following the 2023 season.
But Chicago’s approach this winter? It’s textbook Stearns.
Take a look at the White Sox’s additions: Luisangel Acuña, Munetaka Murakami, Austin Hays, Anthony Kay, Sean Newcomb, Seranthony Domínguez, and Jordan Hicks. That’s a mix of young talent, upside plays, and power arms - the kind of low-risk, high-reward bets that don’t guarantee contention, but do raise the team’s floor.
Acuña, of course, came over from the Mets in the Robert deal. Murakami and Hays were both names floated as potential Mets targets earlier in the offseason.
Kay and Newcomb are classic reclamation projects - Kay returning from a strong season overseas, Newcomb trying to recapture his early promise. And in the bullpen, Domínguez and Hicks bring heat - exactly the kind of arms that could’ve helped the Mets replace departing relievers like Ryne Stanek.
The White Sox aren’t likely to replicate the Mets’ 2024 surge, but in a division where nobody’s running away with it, they’ve given themselves a shot. This is what a smart, opportunistic offseason looks like - not swinging for the fences, but taking smart hacks, and connecting more often than not.
For the Mets, the takeaway is clear: even when Plan A doesn’t materialize, there’s value in knowing how to adjust. And while this winter hasn’t followed the Stearns script to the letter, the Mets are still writing a story worth following.