New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen Reflects on Departures of Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The New York Mets entered camp with a dramatically reshaped roster, and owner Steve Cohen is not pretending the transition was easy.

In a candid conversation with longtime Mets radio voice Howie Rose, Cohen addressed the offseason exits that defined the franchise’s winter, most notably the departures of Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz.

Alonso’s free agency decision, Cohen admitted, was easier to process from a business standpoint.

The Mets were unwilling to extend to a five year commitment, and when the Baltimore Orioles presented Alonso with a five year, 155 million dollar contract, Cohen described it simply as a “great” offer.

From ownership’s perspective, the parameters were clear.

New York valued Alonso, but not at that term length.

Díaz’s departure, however, carried a different emotional and strategic tone.

The All Star closer ultimately agreed to a three year, 69 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cohen admitted the decision caught him off guard.

“I did find that one perplexing,” Cohen said. “I’m not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision.”

While the Mets’ offer reportedly trailed Los Angeles slightly in total value, it was competitive, and Cohen indicated there was willingness to adjust upward if necessary.

By the time discussions intensified, Díaz had already resolved his destination.

Cohen revealed that the front office anticipated the risk and strategically signed Devin Williams as insurance.

“I felt pretty good about the fact that we had signed Devin Williams,” Cohen explained, describing the move as a “really good hedge” in the event Díaz chose elsewhere.

The acquisition of Williams signaled foresight rather than reaction, ensuring bullpen stability even if negotiations collapsed.

Still, the emotional component lingered.

Alonso and Díaz were foundational players during Cohen’s early tenure as owner.

“They were the players that I started with in my ownership, Day 1,” Cohen said, acknowledging personal relationships developed over time.

The offseason also saw the departures of Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil via trade, further intensifying the sense of transition.

For fans, the reshuffling represented a stark identity shift.

For Cohen, it represented the first true emotional recalibration of his ownership era.

“That creates anxiety when people leave,” he admitted, underscoring that roster construction carries human cost beyond spreadsheets.

Yet anxiety quickly transitioned into ambition.

The Mets responded aggressively, finalizing the signing of Bo Bichette after falling short in the pursuit of Kyle Tucker.

Under manager Carlos Mendoza, the coaching staff itself underwent sweeping change, aligning philosophy with personnel evolution.

Cohen expressed genuine excitement about the new roster composition.

“It’s different than the team we had last year,” he said, emphasizing that many of the incoming players possess playoff experience and high pressure credibility.

That distinction matters.

The Mets are not rebuilding.

They are recalibrating around postseason readiness.

Cohen expects this roster to compete immediately, pointing to its blend of veteran composure and competitive resilience.

“I expect this team to be a playoff team,” he stated confidently.

The 2026 Mets will look unfamiliar in uniform, but the organizational objective remains unchanged.

For Cohen, the offseason represented both farewell and foundation.

The emotional toll of watching cornerstone players depart is undeniable.

But in his view, the transformation positions the Mets not merely to contend, but to evolve.