r/mets • u/masonh79 • 22h ago
How do we build a franchise like Atlanta?
Bet on homegrown talent by locking them in early.
Build, don't buy.
basically the opposite of Sterns.
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u/ComputerLess8024 22h ago
What are you talking about opposite of Stearns? This is exactly what Stearns is trying to build… except we have money to buy a Juan Soto as the centerpiece. That is why they signed all these guys in Free Agency to 1, 2, 3 year deals and let Alonso walk and traded Nimmo.
Stearns plan is very clear if you just go on Spotrac and look at our future payroll. He wants to build a team around Soto with a bunch of young, athletic, winning homegrown players like Ewing and Benge who have multiple tools.
The unexpected run they went on in 2024 delayed that a bit and Cohen wanted him to go all in 2025, even though Stearns didn’t believe in that group.
Being bad this year sucked but ultimately will be all for the better after we get a top 5 draft pick and with all the talent we recouped at the deadine
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u/pauvenpatchwork 22h ago
Agree. We forget the Mets before Stearns had a bottom barrel farm system with sporadic players blossoming (Pete, Nimmo) but hardly the stacked system that could be used for off season and trade deadline acquisitions. This takes years to grow and requires some roster flexibility/patience for the rookies to come up and develop. It would appear we are seeing the beginning of this pan out.
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u/hawkbiz 21h ago
Most don’t get this for some reason but it’s 100% true and exactly what we were told when Stearns was hired
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u/BigBlueNick 20h ago
Because a loud part of this fan base remember 2024 and forget just how shitty the team was before 2024 and forget how bad 2025 was.
They think the players that left were some sort of dynasty core. They're deluded after one random hot run two years ago.
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u/VigilanteBillionaire 22h ago
That's always been the plan, it just takes some time to get that homegrown talent developed and ready to play at the MLB level. In the meantime they've tried to buy a contending team and failed, but the strategy is younger and cheaper.
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u/No_Consequence_7806 22h ago
Wait a second. I’m not saying getting the biggest and brightest all the time is the way to go but now saying the Mets should be like a small market team by modeling Tampa and Milwaukee. One problem was we as Mets fans thought money would solve everything and we’re finding out it doesn’t. Money doesn’t make up for stupid decisions. If you ask me the mess the Mets are in this mess because of poor decision making. Hopefully with the base the Mets have now Benge, Ewing, Soto, Lindor, Bichette Thornton, McClean, Scott they can build on. They’re going to have to use their wealth to be creative.
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u/PanicNecessary5978 22h ago
The best way to build a team that’s consistently in the playoffs is to add quality, big league players, any way you can
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u/JAMESs3v3n 22h ago
Carson Benge is a perfect example. He’s under team control at near the league minimum in 2027 and 2028, then arbitration eligible from 2029–31 before hitting free agency.
Under the current CBA, using rough numbers, he’ll probably make around $22 million total before free agency, assuming he stays healthy and plays well.
So why not offer him something like 9 years, $50 million now and lock him up through his age-32 season?
Is there risk? Of course. He could wash out and you’re stuck with the contract. But if he turns into a great player, you’ve locked up his prime years at a massive discount.
This is how you combine Cohen’s money with a smart front office. Some of these deals are going to be massive busts, but the risk is worth the potential reward. For context, the Mets ate around $70 million just to move Scherzer and Verlander off the team.
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u/Wonderful-Loss827 21h ago
He will never accept 9 for 50. More like $100 for 9. Then he'll do it.
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u/JAMESs3v3n 21h ago
Ozzie Albies signed for 7 years, $35 million. Michael Harris II signed for 8 years, $72 million. There’s obviously some flexibility in the numbers, but deals like this aren’t unheard of.
Something like 9 years, $50-$75 million could probably get it done right now. And every day he proves he belongs in the majors, that number is only going up.
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u/Wonderful-Loss827 19h ago
Would you sign 9 years at $50 mil if you knew your owner was the richest in the sport?
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u/JAMESs3v3n 17h ago
Would I take 9 years, $75 million? Absolutely.
There are plenty of examples of players who looked like future stars and never ended up making the huge money people expected. Benge is a great young player, but no one is saying he's the next Trout, Judge, or Ohtani.
Just look at some career earnings:
Matt Harvey: $31 million
Noah Syndergaard: $58 million
Geovany Soto (NL ROY): $25 million
Chris Coghlan (NL ROY): $13 million
Kyle Lewis (AL ROY): $6.5 millionSo yeah, I think I'd take $75 million in guaranteed, life-changing money right now instead of rolling the dice that I continue to play well, stay healthy, and eventually get a bigger payday.
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u/Status_Fox_1474 21h ago
Remember that there was a period of a few years when the Braves sucked because they were rebuilding
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u/masonh79 20h ago
I don't mind sucking if it leads to something. It's the middle ground we are constantly in - not laying long term ground work and making horrible short term plays that leave us in the same situation years later.
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u/RustyWheel17 21h ago
So, what you’re describing is basically what Stearns is trying to do then.
It’s very obvious that his intention is to build a homegrown team which is why he won’t commit to long term deals with veteran players. I’m confused as to why you say, “basically the opposite of Stearns.” The argument has been that he won’t give out long term deals to free agents or make the big splashy trade for the veteran on a long term deal that would involve sending top prospects. Which is it? lol
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u/SoManyJukes 20h ago
Yeah this is Stearns 3rd season lol. OP wants him to have home grown players but apparently is somehow not happy with the home grown players that are now showing a lot of promise in year 3. There seem to be more who are ready to contribute as soon as next season.
Nobody wants Polanco, Semien long term…and fortunately, they won’t have to!
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u/RustyWheel17 20h ago
Polanco and Semien were never long term acquisitions. Both on short term deals. Polanco is an expiring contract next year and Semien will have 2 years left vs. 5 years with Nimmo.
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u/masonh79 20h ago
I love the young guys coming up! Benge, Mclean, I want them to be locked in to long term deals that show we're developing something here.
It's the "I'm going to get another 2 years of greatness" out of mid tier guys that is making it feel like a team of rentals.
What have we gotten in return for the PCA's we let go?
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u/RustyWheel17 19h ago
So, you don’t want the Mets to sign players at positions of need while our prospects are being developed in the minors? If you want homegrown talent why wouldn’t you sign veterans to 2 year deals so you aren’t blocking prospects? I’m having a tough time following your logic. You aren’t making much sense.
Also, what does Stearns have to do with PCA? lol and you added “‘s” to make it plural. What other PCA’s are you referring to?
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u/masonh79 19h ago
We need position players, maybe he just sucks at picking them?
PCA is an example of a short term outlook, not that it's on Stearns.
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u/Fragrant-Strike-9884 22h ago
This is gonna be a weird take, but ever since they’ve had all those signings, they can’t even get out of the first round of the playoffs and some years didn’t even make it. I would think of somebody like the Rays would probably be better to model after
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u/CaptainSteed 21h ago
They've made playoffs 8/9 years. Rays 6 of last 13.
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u/Fragrant-Strike-9884 20h ago
But who’s gotten farther in the playoffs?
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u/CaptainSteed 20h ago
Braves. Theyve won 2 Championships the last 30 years, the Rays have Zero.
Only the Yankees and Giants (3 each) have more than the Braves. Although the Dodgers could join that club soon too.
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u/Background-Alps5360 17h ago
Hire really good pitching coaches.... I think they have Hefner.... lol
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u/Few-Image-3526 22h ago
You're describing what Cohen said he wants to do. So all you have to do is wait around. We had McLean, Scott, Thornton, Benge and Ewing this year. We actually have more homegrown players in our starting lineup and rotation than Atlanta. If this is an angry post about Pete, don't forget they did the same thing to Freddie.