Steve Cohen arrived in Queens on paper as a savior, descending from the height of hedge-fund towers in Greenwich or Boca with a swagger and a checkbook. He bet big on the New York Mets, dumping over $340 million into a franchise nobody could quite call broken. But now the bright lights feel dimmer. He came calling in December 2024 with a 15-year, $765 million contract to lure Yankees’ Juan Soto into the Mets. The richest deal in MLB history. That moment felt like the turning point. They didn’t just outbid their neighboring rivals; they made history.

But now, the Mets have lost their position as leaders in the final stage. They entered the weekend at 82–78, tied with Cincinnati for the last National League wild-card spot. The issue: the Reds possess the head-to-head tiebreaker. In effect, New York is on the outside looking in. On Friday, the Marlins delivered a dagger, a 6-2 rout in Miami blew open a pivotal series, leaving the Mets gasping.

“We put ourselves in this position. Here we are,” said manager Carlos Mendoza, as per the New York Post. “We’ve got to come back tomorrow and the next.”

It wasn’t always like this. In the early summer, New York had the best record in baseball. But as possibilities increased, so did flaws. The Mets lost seven straight in June, seven in August, and eight in September, a brutal pattern in the season’s most critical stretches. Their bullpen, once a strength, now leaks runs; their offense, led by Soto’s 43 home runs and .396 OBP, has too often started fast and finished limp. Meanwhile, Cohen’s spending has been relentless, including the Soto deal; the Mets have shelled out roughly $1.6 billion in player salary under his watch.

Cohen thought that a record-shattering contract and relentless spending would flip the Mets’ fortunes. Instead, the roster has declined under pressure, filled with injuries, drained of confidence, and exposed in the standings. Even their best players are not playing up to the mark. In yesterday’s match with the Marlins, Francisco Lindor went hitless, and Brett Baty exited with a sore side, following a September downfall.

As per The Athletic’s Hope-O-Meter, the Mets’ World Series optimism has cratered to just 6%, down from a preseason high of 95.5%, when they ranked fourth overall. Even Pete Alonso’s power has cooled, his late-season slump draining what once felt like a reliable middle-order punch. And now if the season ends without a postseason run, critics will ask: Did Cohen bring a titan to Queens, or just a magnifying glass?

Mets set attendance record amid postseason struggles

Citi Field has never felt quite like this before. The Mets attracted 3.18 million fans during this season, who established a new attendance record for the team. The fans cheered loudly while the scoreboard displayed the team’s fading hopes. The Mets sparked a short victory against the Padres, but their wild-card chances still remained unstable. And the fans still showed their dedication and loyalty through their continued attendance.

Amid the chaos, Juan Soto stood out. The $765 million man didn’t just hit; he dominated. He clubbed 42 home runs, swiped 36 bases, and became the first Met in history to post a 40/30 season, a milestone no one saw coming, given his modest speed. Add three consecutive 100-RBI seasons on three different teams. since 1920. Every swing, every steal, seemed to carry the weight of a season that could decline, yet Soto kept producing, forcing the conversation back to his extraordinary talent.

Manager Carlos Mendoza couldn’t hide his admiration. “The consistency of his personality, his preparation, he never panicked,” Mendoza said. “The impact he has with the boys, that’s what makes him who he is. Special guy, special player.” Even in a season defined by ups and downs, Soto’s record-breaking achievements and steady presence provided hope. And reminded everyone that, sometimes, one player’s brilliance can keep an entire ballpark dreaming.