New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has change into a public enemy within the eyes of many Mets followers because of the controversial decisions he made throughout the offseason whereas assembling a roster that went 35-49 throughout the primary 84 video games of the 2026 season.
In the meantime, Eric Chavez beforehand held totally different teaching roles with the Mets from 2022 up till he was dismissed by the membership this previous October. Through the newest version of his podcast, Chavez shared some regarding takes about Stearns and about how star outfielder Juan Soto dealt with his first season with the Mets.
Soto featured for the New York Yankees throughout the 2024 marketing campaign earlier than he signed a 15-year, $765M contract to hitch the Mets in December of that 12 months.
Juan Soto “struggled the primary two months emotionally” after becoming a member of Mets
“He struggled the primary two months emotionally,” Chavez stated about Soto, per Joe Pantorno of amNewYork. “I don’t blame him, a giant transfer going from the Yankees. Perhaps had somewhat little bit of purchaser’s regret. In between innings, he would run from the outfield and go sit within the batting cage on the sofa, and never be within the dugout with teammates. This isn’t a Juan situation. It is a lack of management, a scarcity of accountability from the highest down. And we had an assistant GM who would sit there with him…and type of coddle him, faucet him on the shoulder, with out saying, ‘Hey dude, how about getting within the dugout along with your teammates?'”
Tales about Soto’s alleged unhappiness whereas with the Mets routinely generated headlines all through the spring of 2025. After the Mets endured a brutal collapse final 12 months en path to lacking the playoffs, rumors surfaced claiming that the crew was impacted by alleged clubhouse points all through the second half of the season.
For what it’s price, a report from earlier in June indicated that Soto has served as a powerful and outspoken chief for the Mets amid their quite a few struggles this 12 months.
How David Stearns allegedly reacted when advised of Juan Soto issues
In response to Pantorno, Chavez stated on the podcast that he spoke with Stearns about Soto probably setting a foul instance for youthful gamers final 12 months.
“Nicely, these gamers have to study that they’re not Juan Soto,” Stearns allegedly responded.
Chavez added that “this isn’t a spine sort of chief from a GM, as a result of it trickles down.”
In fact, Mets followers largely would not care about Chavez’s feedback if the crew have been even barely first rate heading into July. The Mets are as a substitute a last-place membership that fired supervisor Carlos Mendoza on June 26, so Chavez’s phrases could pour extra gas onto the figurative fireplace for New York supporters who need crew proprietor Steve Cohen to point out Stearns the door sooner fairly than later.
