In going through the numbers for this grade-the-Mets piece, what jumped out most was how many players had bad-to-horrendous Septembers, both position players and pitchers.
So while it’s true the Mets’ failed season was in some ways a slow death, 17 games under .500 from June 13, it’s also fair to call it a late-season collapse, as this team played its worst baseball — both statistically and fundamentally — with everything on the line, making way too many mental and physical mistakes.
That has to be part of the evaluation for David Stearns and the front office, as to just how widespread changes to the ballclub should be going forward.
But one thing for sure: it makes for a messy report card, even with some strong overall seasons from their stars.
Here are the grades…
DAVID STEARNS
It wasn’t all his fault, but Stearns, the president of baseball operations, has to take the majority of the blame for this calamitous season, just as he received so much credit for 2024.
Injuries and underperformance from Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson were at the root of the second-half swoon, but Stearns has to take the hit for the Frankie Montas signing, which drew plenty of criticism at the time.
He also chose to make room for his young, homegrown players over bringing back high-intensity sparkplug Jose Iglesias, and, as I wrote Sunday, a lack of intangibles may have been a factor this season — especially if you put stock in the Mets’ 0-70 record when trailing after eight innings. His trade deadline deals failed badly, though he received high marks at the time from all corners it seemed, including me.
Finally, perhaps my biggest issue with Stearns was waiting too long to call up Nolan McLean, as the Mets were giving away games starting the likes of Brandon Waddell, Justin Hagenman, and Chris Devenski, due to injuries in the starting rotation.
GRADE: D
CARLOS MENDOZA
Mendoza definitely deserves to come back, in my opinion, but he’s got a lot to prove after he didn’t seem to demonstrate the same feel for making in-game decisions that he had in 2024.
Some of that was being stuck with a weak bullpen, which can make any manager look bad. But even so, at times he seemed to have a lot more faith in that 'pen than most fans or analysts, pulling starters more quickly than he should have and trusting the likes of Ryne Stanek and Gregory Soto in big spots.
To cite a couple of specific decisions, not bringing back Edwin Diaz after a seven-pitch inning in that crucial loss in late September to the Nationals, and not pinch-running Tyrone Taylor for Starling Marte in a game in Milwaukee, both proved costly. Also, Mendoza seemed to be more obsessed with righty-lefty matchups, for hitters and pitchers, than he had been the previous season.
I still think he has a good feel for communicating and managing his players, which is essential to the job, and I don’t believe he lost the clubhouse, as it becomes fashionable to say when a team underperforms. But he has to find a way to help recreate that 2024 vibe that was missing this season.
GRADE: D
FRANCISCO LINDOR
Another 30-30 season but disappeared for a long stretch in the second half when the Mets were struggling, perhaps because of the broken toe. Got hot in September and while his defense overall was good again, Lindor made more misplays than usual, some that were costly.
GRADE: B+
PETE ALONSO
He delivered with the bat and was the Mets’ most consistent and clutch hitter from start to finish. But the defense was a problem. Every throw became an adventure. His high throw that led to Kodai Senga’s hamstring pull changed the season.
Mets need to re-sign him also need a plan to ease him out of being the everyday first baseman.
GRADE: B+
JUAN SOTO
For his first year dealing with the huge expectations of his contract, Soto had a very good season offensively. He just didn’t have those huge, difference-making moments that he had in the past for other teams, including the Yankees.
And with the season on the line in late September, when the Mets needed him most, his bat was relatively quiet. He had two extra-base hits over the final eight games, one of them a meaningless home run in a big loss.
GRADE: B+
BRANDON NIMMO
Solid season for Nimmo but at age 32, it’s starting to look like his best years are behind him as he posted a second straight sub-.800 OPS.
He was one of the Mets’ better hitters in the clutch, hitting .310 with runners in scoring position, but he had a quiet September in the heat of the Wild Card race, with a .278 on-base percentage and three extra-base hits, all home runs.
GRADE: B
BRETT BATY
All in all Baty was a pleasant surprise, blossoming into a very good third baseman, and athletic enough to play a solid second base as well, while seeming to finally get over the hump with the bat. Hit .280 in August/September with above-average on-base and slugging numbers.
GRADE: B+
FRANCISCO ALVAREZ
Turned his season around both offensively and defensively after his demotion to Triple-A. From there he put up a .921 OPS with a .360 on-base percentage and a .561 slugging percentage. With eight second half home runs in 35 games, Alvarez showed signs of regaining the power that’s expected from him, while playing through injuries to his hands.
GRADE: B+
TYRONE TAYLOR
Outstanding defensive season in center field made Taylor a valuable player who was missed in September when he was out with a hamstring injury. Didn’t hit much overall but did deliver in clutch, hitting .328 with runners in scoring position.
GRADE: B
JEFF MCNEIL
Was having a solid season but disappeared in September, hitting .187 with a .240 slugging percentage and a .514 OPS. Finished the season going 4-for-44 in final two weeks. Did provide important value with his defensive versatility, including playing an adequate center field.
GRADE: C
STARLING MARTE
The veteran outfielder had his moments as a part-time DH, but like many of his teammates, did little in September, hitting .228 with no walks, so, yes, a .228 on-base percentage as well, and a .544 OPS.
GRADE: C
RONNY MAURICIO
Showed flashes of high-ceiling potential with the bat but remained true to his reputation for poor plate discipline. Vulnerability to breaking/offspeed stuff kept him from earning consistent playing time. Played well defensively at third base. Hard to tell about his Mets future.
GRADE: C
MARK VIENTOS
Hugely disappointing season after his breakout 2024 that included postseason heroics. Finally looked like he was figuring it out in the second half but then went cold in September, hitting .184 with two home runs.
I don’t cite WAR numbers often, but his -0.2 WAR speaks to his poor defense and lack of foot speed, in addition to his poor offense. In short, he’s a DH.
GRADE: D
CEDRIC MULLINS
Mets were desperate for a center field upgrade at the trade deadline, hoping for the best with Mullins, who wasn’t having a very good season in Baltimore. Still, nobody expected him to be a disaster in New York, hitting .182 with no pop, while playing poorly in center field — getting slow jumps and bad reads.
That play in final week against the Nationals where he stopped running the bases while the ball was in plain sight on the ground, assuming it had been caught, summed up his Mets tenure.
GRADE: F
EDWIN DIAZ
Superb season as Diaz regained his 2022 excellence, closing games with dominance from start to finish. Pitched to a 1.63 ERA over 66.1 innings, his most as a Met.
GRADE: A+
NOLAN MCLEAN
The great hope for next year and beyond. Was dazzling in eight starts after August call-up, featuring elite stuff and uncommon poise. Should have been called up sooner, which could have at least gotten the Mets into the postseason.
GRADE: A
CLAY HOLMES
His conversion from reliever to starter proved a success, as he pitched to a 3.53 ERA over 165 innings, nearly 100 more than his previous high. Seemed to hit a wall in the second half but wound up finishing strong, throwing six shutout innings in game No. 161 with the season on the line.
GRADE: B
DAVID PETERSON
What happened? At age 29, Peterson went from being an All-Star in July to unpitchable by season’s end, as Mendoza wouldn’t let his fully-rested lefty anywhere near the mound in a do-or-die final game of the season.
Was it the workload, as Peterson’s 168 innings pitched were 46 more than his highest previous total? Whatever it was, his 9.72 ERA in four September starts spelled doom for the Mets.
GRADE: C–
SEAN MANAEA
A lost season for the lefty, after his change in delivery and his 2024 dominance earned him a three-year, $75 million contract. Mets better hope his woes were mostly the result of his oblique injury and then the loose bodies in his elbow. Was so untrustworthy by season’s end that Mendoza pulled him after two walks in the second inning of a scoreless game in the season finale.
GRADE: D
KODAI SENGA
He was having an A season before the hamstring injury on June 12, then a D performance in eight starts after his return that led to a minor league demotion. His inability to pitch when he’s in less than perfect health has become an issue.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
BRANDON SPROAT
Showed high-ceiling potential, with feel as well as stuff, in his four starts.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
JONAH TONG
At age 22, Tong wasn’t quite ready to be tossed into the deep end after only two Triple-A starts. But he too showed high-ceiling potential.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE
BROOKS RALEY
By season’s end Raley was the second-most dependable reliever, pitching to a 2.45 ERA in 30 appearances after his return from Tommy John surgery.
GRADE: A–
TYLER ROGERS
The numbers were OK, as Rogers pitched to a 2.30 ERA after coming over in a trade from San Francisco, but his pitch-to-contact style resulted in too many key hits in big spots down the stretch.
GRADE: C
HUASCAR BRAZOBAN
The right-hander had his moments. He was dominant early in the season but very inconsistent overall.
GRADE: C
REED GARRETT
Strong early, inconsistent overall and eventually injured, headed for Tommy John surgery.
GRADE: C-
RYNE STANEK
Seemed to be a DFA candidate for much of the second half, which made it hard to understand why Mendoza used him as often as he did in high-leverage spots, especially in the season finale.
GRADE: D
RYAN HELSLEY
There were ominous signs even when Mets traded for him, as the opposition had been pounding his fastball with the Cardinals. But nobody expected him to be a such a bust.
GRADE: F
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