Former GM questions whether David Stearns is moving fast enough

The New York Mets lost Pete Alonso, watched Edwin Diaz leave, and entered the heart of the offseason with a fan base waiting for the counterpunch.

Former MLB GM Jim Bowden thinks the answer is obvious, but he’s not sure David Stearns is willing to do it.

Speaking on his MLB Network Radio show 'The Front Office', Bowden argued that the Mets’ clearest pivot after losing Alonso was to aggressively pursue Cody Bellinger and Framber Valdez, two players who would immediately stabilize the lineup and rotation. Instead, Bowden suggested, the Mets appear hesitant, tied to an operating style that worked in Milwaukee but may not translate cleanly to New York.

That led Bowden to question whether Stearns was being stubborn. 

The criticism of Stearns’ approach isn't unique.

It has grown louder since Alonso’s departure. National columns and local commentary have questioned whether the Mets are being too rigid in sticking to long-term discipline after losing two franchise anchors in Alonso and Diaz. The plan may make sense on paper, but in New York, optics matter.

And so does urgency.

The Bellinger fit is easy to understand. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter is coming off a strong season in which he hit .272 with 29 home runs, a .480 slugging percentage, and nearly five wins above replacement while providing elite defense across the outfield and first base. His ability to slide into multiple spots would help soften the blow of losing Alonso while keeping the lineup balanced.

Valdez remains one of the most reliable innings-eaters in baseball. In 2025, he threw nearly 200 innings with a mid-3.00 ERA, pairing his trademark ground-ball rate with frontline durability. He is not flashy, but he is exactly the type of stabilizer the Mets’ rotation has lacked when injuries hit.

 Those moves that reset the temperature. They signal that the Mets understand the moment and are willing to absorb risk to reestablish credibility after losing pillars of the roster.