Mets: Next Steps for Senga, Alvarez Surgery, Leadership Assessed

The New York Mets wrapped up a frustrating season with an 83-79 record. They fell short of the MLB playoffs, despite having the league’s second-highest payroll at a staggering $341 million.

Team president David Stearns called the campaign “unacceptable” but pushed back at the idea that the roster lacked leadership. Names like Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, and Edwin Díaz were mentioned as clubhouse leaders.

Still, the harsh reality of missed opportunities and some shocking stats showed a team that’s still searching for answers. Most notably, the Mets became the only club in baseball without a single ninth-inning comeback, going 0-70 when trailing heading into the final frame.

A Costly Collapse Despite an Elite Payroll

When a franchise spends $341 million on its roster, fans expect more than just playoff contention. They want a real shot at a championship.

The Mets’ late-season fade stings even more because of the big spending. Stearns’s rejection of the “lack of leadership” narrative shows the front office trusts its veterans, but performances on the field didn’t exactly back that up.

The Ninth-Inning Struggle That Defined the Season

No statistic summed up the Mets’ frustration more than their record when trailing after eight innings: 0-70. The absence of a single late-game rally hints at deeper issues with clutch hitting and mental toughness.

For fans, that zero in the win column became a symbol of a season where hope evaporated before the final out. Honestly, it’s hard not to feel that sting.

Pitching Woes and Run Prevention Failures

Stearns pointed straight to pitching—especially run prevention—as the main reason the Mets missed the postseason. Even if you’ve got offensive firepower, you just can’t survive poor pitching.

Kodai Senga’s Injury and Decline

Kodai Senga’s season took a turn for the worse after a hamstring injury. He started strong, but his early return didn’t pay off.

Senga struggled to regain his form, putting up a 6.06 ERA in his final seven starts. His velocity dipped during a Triple-A stint, raising concerns about his durability and long-term reliability.

Stearns said it would be “foolish” to expect Senga to log 30 starts in 2025. The Mets clearly need reinforcements in the starting rotation.

Francisco Alvarez: A Beacon of Hope

Amid all the disappointment, catcher Francisco Alvarez was one of the few bright spots. The young backstop dealt with a midseason demotion and a string of injuries—a UCL sprain and broken pinky—but he bounced back.

Over his final 30 games, Alvarez smashed seven home runs and posted a .920 OPS. He’s showing real potential as a cornerstone offensive weapon.

Surgery and Expectations for Next Season

This offseason, Alvarez will have surgery to stabilize his thumb. The goal is to keep him healthy and consistent in 2025.

The Mets will count on his continued development, not just at the plate but also in guiding a pitching staff that badly needs help. If you’re looking for a reason to be optimistic, Alvarez’s resurgence might be it.

Key Areas for the Mets to Address

If the Mets want to bounce back, the front office has to focus on a few things:

The Road Ahead

The numbers don’t lie—talent alone won’t secure playoff spots. The Mets have to blend their veteran leadership with sharper execution in big moments.

Stearns says he’s committed to fixing the pitching staff, and honestly, that’ll be the real test of his vision for 2025.

Mets fans have to wonder if this past season was a wake-up call or just another warning sign. The payroll’s there, the big names are there, but unless performance, health, and clutch play finally line up, New York might find itself on the outside looking in when October rolls around.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mets Notes: Lack of leadership not the problem; how to proceed with Kodai Senga; surgery for Francisco Alvarez