Mets President David Stearns on the State of the Team: Injuries, Depth, and More

Before tonight’s Mets-Phillies showdown, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns met with the media to offer an update on a variety of team matters. From Frankie Montas’s recovery to the emergence of young talent, it’s safe to say Stearns is feeling pretty good about where the team stands early in the season. But there are still plenty of decisions to be made, and Stearns is handling them with the poise of a man who knows baseball — and knows how to keep Mets fans intrigued.

When asked about Frankie Montas’s rehab progress, Stearns was clear that the Mets are on schedule for their original goal: a return sometime between late May and early June. “I think we're still in the out to 75-90 feet area. But we're on pace for what our original time frame was, which was late May, early June. I think that's where we're headed.”

Montas, who’s been progressing well and feeling good, is gradually ramping up, and Stearns confirmed that the Mets are hopeful about his return to the mound as planned.

With the return of Francisco Álvarez likely coming this week, Stearns faced a tough question: when he’s back, will he be the full-time starting catcher? While Stearns acknowledged the importance of Álvarez to the team, he pointed out that the Mets have two excellent options behind the plate. “I think we have two catchers who we feel really good about. Mendy's going to decide who plays every day and who gives us the best chance to win.”

He made it clear that the Mets believe Álvarez will be an integral part of their success, but he didn’t commit to a daily role just yet, leaving room for flexibility depending on matchups and performance.

When asked about Dedniel Nunez’s role, Stearns was candid about the young pitcher’s development. “We think Nunez is going to be a big part of this bullpen going forward. Part of this is just ensuring that he has completed his ramp-up, which he has at this point.” Unfortunately, the weather in Syracuse had thrown a wrench in the plans, leading to a few “false starts.” But now that Nunez is fully ramped up, the Mets are just waiting for the right time to bring him in.

With Jeff McNeil returning to the lineup soon, Stearns is faced with the delicate task of fitting McNeil, Brett Baty, and Luisangel Acuna into the mix. “Difficult decisions are a good thing,” Stearns said with a grin. “When we have players that we want to keep here, as we get healthier, these types of decisions are going to become more and more a part of our thought process.”

He hinted at the possibility of McNeil playing a versatile role, filling in at second base and possibly even in the outfield. “He’s going to bounce around. He’ll play some second. He’ll fill in on the corner outfielders when needed.” And for all the questions about the younger players, Stearns had nothing but praise for the job both Baty and Acuna have done in their expanded roles. “They’ve both done a nice job, especially over the last week to 10 days,” Stearns noted.

In the press conference, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns touched on the electric atmosphere at Citi Field, particularly this season. He shared how the attendance numbers have been strong, which has been felt in the ballpark, giving both the players and fans an exciting vibe. "I think we have the ability and our fan base historically has shown the ability to make this an uncomfortable place for opposing players," Stearns said. "When I was on the fan side of this thing, it's fun to come to a ballpark that's an uncomfortable place for opposing players. And it's a whole heck of a lot of fun for our players to see that when it happens." It seems like there's a growing home-field advantage that is giving the Mets some real energy, especially when the crowd is behind them.

As for his thoughts on the Phillies and Mets' historical rivalries, Stearns also reflected on how Mets fans used to feel about teams like the Braves and the Phillies, particularly with players like John Rocker in the mix. When asked if the success of last season had quelled any lingering fears of failure, Stearns chuckled and said, "So I was never waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was really excited to go to Shea and boo John Rocker." It's clear that while the Mets are focused on the current season, Stearns still acknowledges the storied rivalry and the intensity that the fan base brings when these teams face off.

Despite some doubts heading into the season, the Mets’ starting rotation has been one of the biggest pleasant surprises of 2025. “We felt throughout the offseason and into spring training that we had depth and numbers of quality starters who were going to pitch for us over the course of the year,” Stearns explained. “I don’t know going into a season that you ever predict a two ERA or whatever we’ve got right now with our starting rotation. That’s probably not sustainable for 162.”

Still, it’s hard to argue with a rotation that has been more than reliable thus far, and Stearns gave credit where it was due. “But it doesn’t surprise me that we’re putting together very good starts and getting ourselves through the fifth and sixth inning with regularity.”

Stearns ended the press conference with a reflection on the importance of roster depth and team chemistry. “We’ve probably asked more of certain members of our bullpen than I would have envisioned certainly when spring training began,” Stearns said. And with the addition of players like Juan Soto, Stearns is confident the Mets can continue building on what was a successful 2024 campaign. “We’ve got a strong enough leadership group, which Soto is now a part of.”

In typical Stearns fashion, his final point summed up his philosophy: “We’ve got a good group in there, and they’re bonding, and they’re finding their identity.”

As Mets fans settle into their seats for tonight’s game, one thing is clear — there’s a lot to look forward to in 2025.

Here is the full press conference :