The New York Mets entered the 2026 season with expectations of competing among Major League Baseball’s elite teams, but instead they have endured one of the most disappointing campaigns in recent memory. From inconsistent pitching to underwhelming offensive production, very little has gone according to plan, leaving the club searching for answers as its playoff hopes continue to fade.
As the disappointing season unfolds, several of the organization’s recent roster decisions have come under increased scrutiny. Among them, none has drawn more criticism than the decision to part ways with longtime first baseman Pete Alonso during free agency a move that now appears to be one of the most questionable of David Stearns’ tenure as president of baseball operations.
The latest advanced metrics only strengthen that argument.
According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets currently rank last in Major League Baseball in wins above replacement (fWAR) at first base, posting a dismal -1.1 mark. They have also received the league’s worst production from second base at -0.4 fWAR, highlighting just how ineffective the middle of the infield has been throughout the season.
Sammon also noted that injuries and poor performances have exposed the organization’s lack of roster depth. The Mets have struggled to replace key contributors because many of their upper-level pitching prospects were not ready for the major leagues, while former young cornerstones Brett Baty and Mark Vientos have failed to develop into reliable, low-cost contributors. Additionally, after the promotions of top prospects Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, the farm system no longer features an impact position player knocking on the door to provide immediate help.
The first-base numbers are especially concerning given Alonso’s importance to the lineup during his years in New York.
For nearly a decade, Alonso served as one of the Mets’ most dependable power hitters, consistently providing home runs, run production, and durability in the middle of the batting order. Rather than finding an adequate replacement after his departure, the Mets have received some of the least productive first-base play in baseball, leaving a massive hole in an offense that has struggled to score consistently.
While offensive issues throughout the roster have contributed to New York’s disappointing season, the lack of production at first base has become one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. The poor statistical output suggests the organization underestimated Alonso’s overall value and overestimated its ability to replace his offensive impact internally.
Although multiple factors have contributed to the Mets’ difficult season, the numbers paint a clear picture. The decision to move on from Alonso has not only weakened the lineup but has also become one of the defining mistakes of the David Stearns era.
With the Mets ranking at the bottom of the league at one of baseball’s most offense-oriented positions, the consequences of allowing Alonso to leave continue to grow more apparent. Unless the organization finds a long-term solution at first base, that decision is likely to remain a major point of criticism for years to come.
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