Not long ago, David Stearns could do no wrong in Queens. He landed Juan Soto on a record-breaking deal and brought the Polar Bear back. He looked like someone taking the Mets to a new era. But the mood has suddenly shifted, thanks to the rough 2025 season and an even more conservative winter. It’s almost got fans confused – is this Steve Cohen’s, the billionaire owner’s, team? 

Now, even rival executives are not buying into the fact that Cohen and Co. will pursue any player seriously, given the Mets’ supposed stinginess this time around. That skepticism is showing up in one name that keeps floating around Mets’ circles: Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., the $50 million talent.

Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon summed it best: “Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is one player the Mets have discussed, according to people briefed on their conversations. But with Robert set to earn $20 million in his free-agent year, the Mets might only want to give up minimal talent.” And if you backtrack – this makes sense.

Stearns was not willing to part ways with prospects Jacob Reimer and A.J. Ewing in a deal for Robert Jr. This time, it may not be any different. And what Rosenthal is saying is seriously a problem.

Robert is absolutely on the Mets’ radar, but everything about this chase feels conditional.

While Steve Cohen can surely afford Luis, the Mets seem hesitant to pair that salary with a meaningful prospect package. In short, they like the player, not the price.

From a roster standpoint, the fit makes a lot of sense.

The Mets are thin in center and left field, and trading away Brandon Nimmo for Robert would completely upgrade their defense, speed, and power. His 2023 all-star season showed that his ceiling is high.

Across 145 games that season, Robert delivered a 5.4 bWAR and slashed .264/.315/.542 (.857 OPS), blasting 38 home runs and driving in 80 runs.

The Mets need him because they are on thin ice. They watched Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk away within 48 hours of each other. What’s even more shocking is the way they left.

For Pete Alonso, the Mets didn’t even make an offer, and Diaz never gave the Mets a chance to counter LA’s three-year, $69 million proposal. Also, barring Marcus Semien and Devin Williams, the impact of the additions has been less. So while some “restraint” is important, this now looks more like hesitation.

Eric Chavez fans the flames on David Stearns’ Mets vision

Eric Chavez hasn’t gone quiet ever since the New York Mets dismissed him in October. Instead, he has taken a jab at the team, not once but twice.

On December 9, he posted a laughing emoji on Instagram over a graphic announcing Diaz’s move to the Dodgers. Then two days later, he opened up his Instagram story for answers to fan questions, and when he was asked whether David Stearns was over his head running a big market team like the Mets, Chavez said, “Yes, I do.”

That statement struck a nerve with fans because many already felt that Stearns, coming from Milwaukee, one of baseball’s smallest markets, brought a cost-conscious mindset with him, despite working with the biggest budget in the world.

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And when we hear that the team hasn’t even made an offer to Alonso, the dots connect. He signed a five-year $150 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, and the Mets never even tried to keep him.

David Stearns has long made run prevention his mantra ever since last season’s collapse. And to his credit, breaking up an underachieving core takes plenty of nerve. But then he should be able to replace what’s been lost, right?

From the outside, it’s hard to see how the Mets won’t feel Alonso’s absence, especially in the short term. He was, after all, their most reliable clutch bat and a fan-favorite.

Right now, fans are uneasy with the Mets’ philosophy. Is this a Dodger-style team in the making? Or is Stearns building another Brewers, hoping that pitching, defense, and efficiency can outweigh star power?

For now, the Mets have time and resources to change the narrative, but until that happens, Stearns will be under major fan doubt.