Grading the 2025 Mets: Some low marks for dismal flop

It was a season to forget. But you know what they say about those who forget their history: They’re doomed to repeat it.

The 2025 Mets experienced one of the worst collapses in franchise history. The team with the $340 million payroll  that managed to pull off the coup of the offseason by coaxing free agent Juan Soto away from the Bronx sizzled, fizzled, then imploded. After reaching a high-water mark of 21 games over .500 (45-24) in June with a 5½-game lead in the NL East, the Mets went 38-55 and failed to make the playoffs when they lost on the final day of the regular season.

Even then, it was all for the taking. All they had to do was beat the Marlins, but as so often happened this season, all they actually did was beat themselves. The problems were extensive: The rotation was plagued by injury and ineffectiveness, the bullpen was porous and overtaxed, the defense was poor and the hitting was inconsistent.

Though manager Carlos Mendoza will be back next year, his coaching staff was gutted, and there’s a good chance a number of the names you see on this list won’t be back next year. Still, all these parts make up the whole — a reflection of bad breaks, poor roster construction and worse execution.

These are the grades the Mets earned for 2025:

Carlos Mendoza, manager

Rampant injuries and poor roster construction bit him, but poor bullpen decisions and an inability to limit mental mistakes made it worse. The buck (and the season) started and ended with him. GRADE: D

Luisangel Acuna, INF

Not enough playing time to be sure of his total value, but a good late-game substitution on the basepaths and in the field. GRADE: C+

Pete Alonso, 1B

Defense regressed, but he led the team in RBIs and played all 162 games. GRADE: B+

Francisco Alvarez, C

Bounced back from slow start, did everything he could to work his way back and played through painful injuries. GRADE: A-

Brett Baty, 3B

Worked his way to being an everyday player after a tough start; hits lefties now, has learned consistency and was a bright spot. GRADE: A

Huascar Brazoban, RP

An uneven season, but he ate valuable innings when the Mets needed him the most. GRADE: B

Edwin Diaz, RP

Vintage Diaz returned. Their most valuable pitcher all year. They wouldn’t have had a prayer without him. GRADE: A+

Reed Garrett, RP

Helped carry the bullpen early before falling off a cliff, but who knows how much of that had to do with his UCL tear. GRADE: C

Ryan Helsley, RP

Atrocious start, but he didn’t allow a run in his last six outings. Tipped pitches and struggled to acclimate. GRADE: INC.

Clay Holmes, SP

Strong transition from reliever. Plagued by short starts but was durable and always took the ball. GRADE: B

Francisco Lindor, SS

Too many cold stretches along with mistakes in the field didn’t help his season, but he still finished as a member of the 30-30 club. GRADE: B

Sean Manaea, SP

Oblique injury tanked his season and he couldn’t step up during the Mets’ tailspin. GRADE: D-

Starling Marte, OF/DH

Adapted to a new bench role, stayed consistent, had their second-highest batting average (.273) and helped Juan Soto acclimate. GRADE: A

Ronny Mauricio, UTIL

Rushed to the majors after a year out of baseball just to mostly sit on the bench. GRADE: INC.

Nolan McLean, SP

Thrown into the fire and didn’t flinch. More than big league-ready and a potential future ace. GRADE: A+

Jeff McNeil, UTIL

Defensively versatile and was one of the Mets' best hitters in the first half, but couldn’t buy a hit in September. GRADE: B-

Tylor Megill, SP

Solid early, but struggled, got hurt, and won’t be available for next year; a non-tenure candidate. GRADE: D-

Frankie Montas, SP

Came back from a lat injury, struggled, got sent to the bullpen and then had Tommy John surgery. A bad contract. GRADE: F 

Cedric Mullins, CF

Hit .182 with the Mets with little sign of improvement and was a defensive downgrade from Tyrone Taylor. GRADE: F

Brandon Nimmo, LF

Had some outfield gaffes but was one of their best hitters with RISP and raised his batting average 38 points from last year. GRADE: B

David Peterson, SP

Credit for his All-Star first half, but his implosion down the stretch mirrored his team’s; excellent defender. GRADE: C

Brooks Raley, RP

Back from Tommy John surgery, he became the lefthanded workhorse out of the bullpen. Reliable when so many weren’t. GRADE:  A

Tyler Rogers, RP

Often bitten by bad defense, and contact approach meant he struggled with men on base. GRADE:  C+

Kodai Senga, SP

Strong first half before injury but lost his mechanics and helped doom the season. GRADE: D

Juan Soto, RF

Nearly put together a 40-40 season and led the team in homers, walks, OBP and steals; struggled with RISP, hitting .238. GRADE: A

Brandon Sproat, SP

Flashes of brilliance, but velocity and effectiveness waned as innings progressed. GRADE: INC.

Ryne Stanek, RP

Velocity was there, execution often was not. Struggled in the last two months. GRADE:  D-

Tyrone Taylor, CF

A fourth outfielder thrust into a starting role. His defense saved a shoddy outfield and he was the team’s best hitter with RISP despite a light bat. GRADE: B+

Jonah Tong, SP

Put in an impossible position and struggled. Future still looks bright. GRADE: INC.

Luis Torrens, C

The ideal backup catcher. Light bat, but no one could run on him. GRADE: B+

Mark Vientos, 3B/DH

Showed flashes once in a while but regressed at the plate and was a defensive liability at third. GRADE: D-

By Laura Albanese

laura.albanese@newsday.com@AlbaneseLaura

Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.