The ghosts of the past Mets collapses now haunt David Stearns and his $340 million roster. The team is stuck in the same heartbreaking pattern that has led to their October failures for decades. With only one week left in the regular season, Stearns can only watch as his team’s chances of making the playoffs slip away, overtaken by the Cincinnati Reds, who are working with about one-third of New York’s payroll.

The numbers paint a devastating picture of organizational failure. After establishing themselves as baseball’s best team at 45-24 on June 12 with a dominant 2.79 rotation ERA, the Mets have crashed spectacularly, posting a 35-53 record since then that ranks among the worst in baseball. Their starting pitchers have imploded from league-leading excellence to a dismal 5.12 ERA, ranking 26th in the majors.

This collapse could be worse than the famous 2007 meltdown, when the Mets lost a seven-game lead with 17 games left. Because Stearns is a well-known and successful executive and owner, and Steve Cohen has put a lot of money into the company, the current disaster hurts even more. The Reds now have the important head-to-head tiebreaker, which means the Mets have lost control of their own fate, even though they spent almost three times as much on player salaries.

The Reds’ small rise makes the situation even more embarrassing. Since July 27, Cincinnati has only won 24 games and lost 26. However, after sweeping Chicago in four games and winning five in a row, they are now ahead of the Mets, who spend a lot of money. The difference shows how problems within an organization can cancel out financial benefits, leaving Stearns to explain another high-profile failure.

After 170 days in playoff position, the Mets no longer control their destiny following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Washington and Cincinnati’s 1-0 victory over Chicago. This marks their first time outside the playoff picture since April 5. “It comes down to winning. We’ve put ourselves in this position, so we’ve got to find a way to get out of it,” Francisco Lindor acknowledged, capturing the team’s desperate reality as they face potential playoff elimination despite their enormous payroll advantage.

The organization is still dealing with its historic meltdown, but each player is now at a crossroads. The collapse has caused uncertainty that goes well beyond this season, especially for the team’s most valuable players.

Alonso’s uncertain future looms over the Mets’ collapse

The crushing weight of Sunday’s defeat extends beyond playoff implications, as uncomfortable questions now shadow the team’s biggest stars. Pete Alonso walked off Citi Field knowing reporters wanted answers to more than just the loss to Washington that dropped the Mets from postseason contention.

The inevitable question about his future with the New York Mets hung heavy in the air. Alonso deflected with practiced ease when asked if this marked his final home game in Queens. “If I had a nickel for how many times everyone in this room has said that… I’d be really, really rich,” he said, flashing that familiar grin. “We’ll see what happens, but I’m a firm believer that the right thing is going to happen.”

But when he talked about his connection to Citi Field, real feelings came out even though he was being diplomatic. “This place has been really special for me… Playing here at Citi is awesome. It’s super fun. The fans are awesome, super passionate,” Alonso revealed. His words meant a lot more after he broke the franchise’s all-time home run record last month.

The timing makes things harder for both sides. Alonso has full control over his future thanks to his opt-out clause. He hit 37 home runs and drove in 122 runs, which brought his market value back up after a bad 2024 season. He agreed to a two-year deal worth $54 million instead of the $200 million mega-deal he wanted. Now, just as the company is going through its most embarrassing collapse in recent memory, he has shown his worth again.