Mets owner Steve Cohen addresses club's philosophy after lackluster offseason

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen spoke with media members before the club's Opening Day game versus the Milwaukee Brewers and after the organization had completed what fans viewed as an uninspiring offseason. 

"I think what we’re building here is something that’s sustainable," Cohen explained on Friday, as shared by John Healy of SNY. "I’ve talked about our farm system being a lot better and you need a combination of veterans and young players to make the roster work. You can’t just do it all through free agency. The numbers don’t work." 

Cohen in recent years used the fall and winter months to sign big-name players such as shortstop Francisco Lindor and co-aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander to massive contracts. The 2023 Mets entered the year with baseball's highest payroll, but that group failed to click on and off the field before Cohen approved a pre-trade deadline fire sale that included landing prospects for Scherzer and Verlander.

After two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto picked the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency this offseason, Cohen allowed Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns to focus on depth-related moves this past offseason. 

"I’m encouraged by what we’re developing," Cohen said on Friday. "I’m encouraged by how we’re making our players better – in the farm system and up here, too – and I’m encouraged by what we’re building organization-wise that is the type of stuff that creates an elite team." 

Stearns teased earlier this month the Mets will eventually "take our shots" in free agency. Specifically, the Amazin's have been routinely linked in rumors with New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto as Soto embarks on his walk year. 

Some were surprised the Mets signed designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a one-year, $12M deal late in spring training. According to SNY's Robert Sanchez, Cohen said on Friday that acquiring Martinez "was an opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up" considering the Mets' need for a bat. 

"The problem with free agency is you’re dealing with an agent curve," Cohen added about the club's philosophy. "… Over time you get a declining performance and yet you’re still paying for that. But we have to find a blend that works. I don’t want to spend money for the sake of spending money. I want this organization to be run efficiently. I want it to be run professionally." 

Shortly before the Mets' first pitch of the season, PECOTA projections shared by Baseball Prospectus predicted that the 2024 squad would notch roughly 83.4 wins. Such a lackluster campaign theoretically could spur Cohen to go big-game hunting this coming fall.