The New York Mets' downfall was as bewildering as it was devastating. Last year, the team was a juggernaut—every day felt like a step closer to the World Series. This year? A train wreck that left fans questioning everything. With a $340 million payroll, a blockbuster contract for Juan Soto, and a roster that had just won the NLCS, the Mets were supposed to be the favorites. Instead, they collapsed into baseball’s biggest failure. How did this happen? Let’s break it down.
But here’s where it gets controversial: The Mets’ collapse wasn’t just about luck. It was a slow, painful unraveling of everything that made them special. From the moment they entered the 2025 season, the vibe in the clubhouse shifted. Players who had never seen this much talent before struggled to find their rhythm. Executives who built a team they believed could win a championship now faced a stark reality: the team wasn’t just underperforming—it was disintegrating.
One veteran player summed it up: "We were better this year, talent-wise, than we were last year. But it didn’t work." That’s the crux of the story. The Mets had the stars, the money, and the potential. Yet, they failed to translate that into results. Why? The answer lies in the cracks beneath the surface.
The first crack appeared in June, when injuries to key starters threw the rotation into chaos. But many in the organization see it as more than that. They split the season into two distinct phases: a June slump explained by injuries, and a later slump that carried no such excuses. The latter began at the trade deadline, when the team felt confident and in control. By the time they reached Miami for the final weekend, the Mets were left asking themselves: What happened?
The answer, in many ways, is in the clubhouse. The 2025 version of the Mets wasn’t the same as 2024. The energy was different. There was no "OMG" moment, no pop superstar to elevate the team. Players like Brandon Nimmo said, "We don’t need to try to make that happen." But what replaced that energy? Was it a lack of drive, or something deeper?
Some players wondered if the team still had the same fire that propelled them in 2024. After all, they’d proven doubters wrong last year. Would they be motivated the same way this time? Others argued that the team was still working hard. "We had plenty of effort, we had belief," said Pete Alonso. But effort alone doesn’t guarantee success.
The real issue, however, was chemistry. The Mets missed the presence of their "energy guys”—players who brought a certain flair to the team. Jesse Winker, Jose Siri, and Sean Manaea all struggled with injuries or performance issues. When asked if chemistry was off, a veteran player said, "I don’t know if that’s the case. We do have different personalities, but everyone gets along. We have so many veterans who know how to handle things. We’re not lacking leadership." But leadership, too, was different this season.
Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, two of the team’s stars, have contrasting personalities. Lindor is laid-back and friendly, while Soto is more business-like. Different players gravitate toward one or the other. While that’s not inherently bad, it created a dynamic that some saw as a problem. "Does this have to be Lindor’s team or Soto’s team?" one source asked. The answer, they said, is that it shouldn’t. Leadership should come from everyone, not just one person.
But the Mets’ leadership wasn’t just about individual personalities. Manager Carlos Mendoza, who has been in the hot seat since the start of the season, faced criticism for his decisions. He admitted he took responsibility for the team’s struggles. "I’ve got to take a long look at how I need to get better," he said. Yet, even with his efforts, the Mets couldn’t avoid a pattern of mistakes. "We continue to make the same mistakes," he said. "And it’s costing us games."
The defense, however, was the most glaring issue. The Mets allowed 28 unearned runs in the final two months of the season, a number that put them in the bottom third of the league. Their groundball rate was among the worst, and even their best hitters were bad defenders. "Their best hitters are bad defenders and vice versa," one scout said. Fixing this isn’t easy. The team needs to prioritize defensive improvements, but with so many key players aging, it’s a challenge.
Then there’s the pitching staff. Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga, the two pitchers the Mets relied on, underperformed. Manaea was pulled five outs into his game, and Senga couldn’t even stay in the majors after a hamstring injury. The decision to bring them back before the All-Star break was a miscalculation. "It’s a complete failure," Manaea said. But the team feels they failed those players. The regret is in the choices, not the outcomes.
So, what’s next for the Mets? The team is still happy with Mendoza, but the pressure is on. David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, faces the biggest challenge of his career: rebuilding a team that lost its way. The Mets need to fix their defense, improve their pitching, and find a way to unify their roster. But with so many pieces in place, can they turn things around?
Last year was magic. This year was an illusion. The question is: What lessons will the Mets learn this winter? And more importantly, will they be able to rebuild a team that once seemed unstoppable?
