Mets' David Stearns discusses trade deadline, injuries and manager ahead of series with Dodgers
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns speaks to the media before a game between the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on Friday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
David Stearns said he didn’t expect to hear a question about the “grieving process” surrounding the team he constructed turning into one that could become a shell of itself.
“I don’t know exactly what the stages of grief are,” the Mets’ president of baseball operations said Friday during his regular homestand news conference. “But whatever they are probably have to wait because we’re really busy.”
This 10-game homestand is the final one before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Mets, who lost to the Dodgers, 4-2, on Friday night to drop to 43-61, are expected to enter sell mode.
Only five players reportedly are on their “untouchable” list heading into the deadline: Juan Soto, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott and Nolan McLean.
So what is Stearns’ strategy?
“I think we have to be open-minded,” he said. “We’ve been very clear, Steve [Cohen]’s been very clear that we expect to compete in 2027. We have to keep that in mind. We also have to make moves that we believe are right for the organization. And so we’re sitting here nine, 10 days out from the deadline and we’re not going to close any paths down right now.”
One of the biggest question marks surrounding the Mets and the deadline is what will happen with Francisco Lindor.
Lindor, who undoubtedly was the face of the Mets before they signed Soto in December 2024, has a full no-trade clause. The 32-year-old shortstop has five seasons left on his 10-year, $341 million contract and has not publicly commented on whether he would waive the no-trade clause.
When asked if he would rule out Lindor being traded, Stearns said: “I’m not going to rule out or in any specific player on anything. I don’t think that’s wise for me to do. What I will say is, we’ve got a group of young players and we’ve got some potential Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, that we view as our core, and we expect them to be our core.”
Stearns would not comment on the specifics of Lindor, or any other player with trade potential, on Friday. He did emphasize that he considers a “couple guys who are likely heading to Cooperstown one day” — presumably Soto and Lindor — as part of the Mets’ core.
The Mets will have plenty more questions to answer when it comes to their rotation.
Freddy Peralta, whom the Mets obtained in a trade with the Brewers in January, was supposed to be their ace, but things have gone awry in his walk year. He is 5-9 with a 5.01 ERA in 21 starts and seems likely to be traded.
Clay Holmes’ situation is more complex. Holmes, in the second year of a three-year, $38 million contract with a player option for next season, is nearing a return from the right fibula fracture he suffered in May.
Holmes has been an asset for the Mets, posting a 2.39 ERA in his first nine starts this season, and was open to signing an extension with the franchise.
Regarding extension talks, he said Friday: “I don’t think there’s been a ton there.”
He added: “I think it’s just one of those situations where there’s a few different scenarios the team can go, and I think it really boils down to what the team thinks is best for the organization now and long-term.”
Stearns declined to get into the specifics of conversations “that may have or may not have occurred” with Holmes.
Stearns did harp on the positives that the Mets’ “young starters” — McLean, Scott and Zac Thornton — have provided. But he said the rotation as a whole is “probably also an area we’re going to have to look to supplement as we head into ’27.”
Walk-year relievers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley also are likely trade candidates. Luke Weaver — in the first season of a two-year, $22 million deal — has popped up a lot in media speculation.
Stearns was asked about the possibility of catchers Francisco Alvarez (under team control through 2029) and Luis Torrens (through 2028) getting traded but declined to comment, instead saying: “We’re very fortunate to have two really good ones.”
Given the current negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement, it’s not a certainty that baseball will be played in 2027. Teams are mindful of that, of course, but Stearns said he doesn’t think “that’s a real impactful element of this deadline.”
As far as the Mets’ managerial opening, Stearns said he still anticipates interim manager Andy Green returning to the front office after the season. Green was the team’s senior vice president of player development before moving to the dugout.
Carlos Beltran, who is being inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, said Monday that the Mets spoke with him about possibly taking over as interim manager after firing Carlos Mendoza on June 26. Beltran, who is a special assistant to Stearns, said managing is “on my bucket list” but was noncommittal about being in the running for the Mets’ opening.
Stearns wouldn’t discuss conversations that “may or may not have occurred” with Beltran regarding the opening.
“I love having Carlos as a special assistant,” he said. “He does a great job, and I’m really excited for him and his family about what they’re about to experience this weekend. It’s very well-deserved.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
