Mets Owner Advocates for Patience Amid Offseason Changes

Steve Cohen, the owner of the Mets, is urging calm during a hectic period for the team following the departures of Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso from New York.

While Cohen expressed understanding of fan frustrations, he emphasized that there’s still plenty of time left in the offseason. “I get the fan reactions,” he relayed to Jon Heyman of The Post. “We have a long offseason ahead before we finalize the playoff team.”

The offseason kicked off with a bang as Diaz and Alonso made moves to different teams. On Wednesday, it was reported that Alonso is set to join the Orioles on a five-year deal worth $155 million after spending seven seasons with the Mets.

Interestingly, the Mets didn’t present a contract offer to Alonso before he signed with Baltimore, according to a report from Joel Sherman. It became apparent that the Orioles were prepared to suggest more lucrative terms than the Mets were willing to negotiate.

Earlier in the offseason, the Mets had already traded Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers, and just recently, Diaz agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers.

A source close to the situation informed Mike Puma from The Post that Diaz was not pleased about the team’s choice to part ways with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner after the last season.

Cohen’s comments mirrored those shared by Mets director of baseball operations, David Stearns, who spoke with reporters during the winter meetings held in Orlando, Fla., on the same day Diaz headed to Los Angeles.

When asked about Diaz, Stearns mentioned, “This contract is not official, so I can’t comment.” He added, “I’m quite optimistic about how the offseason will unfold. There’s a lot of work ahead, but we have several talented players, and I believe that by Opening Day, the team will be in a strong position.”