David Stearns’ recent overhaul of the Mets roster stemmed from a mix of injuries and underwhelming performances, leading to the team’s dismal standing as the worst in the league.
On Tuesday, the director of baseball operations admitted that the organization needs to reassess how it evaluates the risk of injuries among players.
This comes in light of unusual injury histories affecting players like Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., which has further crippled an already struggling lineup.
The current offense ranks the lowest in scoring and will be counting on two rookies, Carson Benge and AJ Ewing, to step up in the outfield, despite their limited experience in Triple-A.
Before the team kicked off its homestand against the Tigers at Citi Field, Stearns stated he was “not close” to making any trades involving veteran players and expressed confidence in the potential to revamp the roster.
“I believe that,” he remarked about the team’s chance to rejuvenate the season. “We have a roster filled with talented individuals who can contribute and exhibit strong character. There’s still plenty of time left in the season. It’s not that early— we’re a quarter into the season. But I think there’s enough time and the talent to turn it around.”
It seems he might be one of the few holding onto this belief, given the Mets’ struggles since the season started, particularly at the plate.
The difficulties could be attributed to injuries sidelining rookies like Robert and Polanco, alongside established players like Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, or simply a lack of production from others like Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Brett Batty, and most recently Francisco Alvarez. Overall, things have been quite tough since opening day.
“I think it’s a mix of injuries and players who were healthy but underperforming,” Stearns noted.
“There’s no denying we’re underachieving. As a whole, the organization must find a way to improve, and I genuinely believe we will.”
Adding Ewing might bring some relief as he pairs with Benge in the outfield with Robert out for an extended period.
“I wouldn’t have made this decision if I didn’t think AJ was ready,” Stearns asserted.
However, the challenge remains with having players who often face injury setbacks.
Stearns reflected on the implications of signing players with injury histories, acknowledging the risks involved. “We’re definitely feeling that risk now and it hasn’t been helpful to have multiple players injured all at once,” he explained. It’s an aspect we need to keep in mind.
Regarding coach Carlos Mendoza, Stearns emphasized he has no plans to make any coaching changes, stating, “[Mendoza] does an excellent job.”
The season may be at a tipping point.
“We acknowledge that the first six weeks haven’t met expectations, but we also believe this team has the talent needed to make a turnaround,” Stearns concluded.
