The New York Mets are entering the 2026 season under a cloud of recalibration, and owner Steve Cohen made it clear this week that one symbolic tradition will not be part of the reset.
Speaking during his annual spring training news conference, Cohen firmly shut down the idea of naming a team captain in Queens.
“As long as I’m owning the team, there will never be a team captain,” Cohen said, drawing a line under months of speculation about leadership and clubhouse structure.
His reasoning was deliberate rather than dismissive.
Cohen explained that he views each clubhouse as unique and believes leadership should evolve organically rather than be formalized with a title.
The statement arrives after a turbulent 2025 campaign that fell short of postseason expectations.
Despite entering last season with significant momentum following the blockbuster signing of Juan Soto to a record-setting contract in December 2024, the Mets stumbled to an 83-79 finish.
They placed second in the National League East behind the Philadelphia Phillies but narrowly missed the wild-card race.
The disappointment intensified scrutiny on internal dynamics, particularly surrounding leadership accountability.
Speculation swirled about whether players such as Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, or Pete Alonso should assume more visible leadership roles.
The conversation gained traction as the season unfolded, with outside observers suggesting that a formal captaincy could stabilize the room.
However, the composition of that clubhouse has changed dramatically since then.
Alonso departed in free agency, signing with the Baltimore Orioles, while Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers.
The exits of two long-tenured figures altered the leadership equation entirely.
Starting pitcher David Peterson now holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured Met, entering his seventh season in New York.
Veteran left-hander Sean Manaea, approaching his third year with the club and possessing a decade of major league experience, also stands as a potential clubhouse anchor.
Beyond the pitching staff, offseason additions introduced new leadership profiles.
Infielder Marcus Semien arrived via trade in the Nimmo deal, bringing postseason pedigree and vocal presence.
Free-agent signings Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco add further veteran stability to a reshaped infield.
Manager Carlos Mendoza echoed Cohen’s philosophy when discussing leadership distribution.
Mendoza emphasized that successful major league teams rarely rely on a single authoritative figure.
He noted that while the Mets lost influential voices during the offseason, they simultaneously gained experienced players accustomed to leadership responsibilities.
In Mendoza’s view, a collective leadership group fosters accountability more effectively than a designated captain.
Cohen reinforced that stance by pointing out how uncommon the captain title has become in modern baseball.
Currently, only the New York Yankees, led by Aaron Judge, and the Kansas City Royals, captained by Salvador Perez, formally recognize the role.
Historically, the Mets have named just four captains in franchise history.
David Wright most recently held the honor from 2013 to 2018, joining a lineage that includes Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco.
Those figures embodied eras defined by personality and presence.
Yet Cohen appears intent on steering away from symbolic hierarchy in favor of shared responsibility.
Manaea attempted to temper the debate, framing the issue as secondary to performance.
He noted that whether or not a “C” appears on someone’s jersey, winning baseball games depends on daily preparation and mutual respect.
The Mets’ internal recalibration now shifts toward culture rather than titles.
After a season clouded by unmet expectations and whispered tension, the organization is betting on distributed leadership to restore cohesion.
Cohen’s stance is definitive.
The captaincy conversation is closed.
What remains open is whether this collective approach can translate into October baseball in 2026.
