{"id":114214,"date":"2026-02-16T22:32:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T03:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=114214"},"modified":"2026-02-16T22:32:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T03:32:42","slug":"mets-culture-reset-2026-steve-cohen-commits-no-captain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/16\/mets-culture-reset-2026-steve-cohen-commits-no-captain\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets Embrace Culture Reset Ahead of 2026 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

After one of the most historic collapses in baseball history by the New York Mets in 2025, it was apparent that a dramatic change was needed. This involved cutting ties with the four longest-tenured Mets, including fan favorite<\/a> and slugger Pete Alonso<\/a> and longtime outfielder<\/a> Brandon Nimmo<\/a> \u2014 a move followed by Edwin D\u00edaz<\/a>\u2019s departure<\/a> in free agency and Jeff McNeil<\/a>\u2019s exit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mets Commit to Culture Change in 2026<\/h2>\n

The Mets made a flurry of unexpected and fun moves \u2014 ones expected to change the team culture and bring the clubhouse even closer together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like there\u2019s a different energy here this year than last year,\u201d owner Steve Cohen said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is, it just feels really optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mets
Sep 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen on the field before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cohen purchased the Mets from the Wilpon family, vowing to the fan base that winning baseball would return to Citi Field within three to five years. That benchmark has arrived \u2014 producing two playoff appearances, including a six-game NLCS series in which the Mets stood little chance against a dominant Los Angeles Dodgers team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t won. I really want to win. Each year that goes by, I get annoyed,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cI\u2019m frustrated. I\u2019m really committed to this team. I know how much the fans care. We\u2019re celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1986 win, and that\u2019s just really long.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mets have the talent to win, led by one of the best pure hitters in baseball, Juan Soto<\/a>, along with the leadership and skill of Francisco Lindor<\/a>. The two stars were consistently in headlines during the slower part of the offseason, with rumors swirling that they didn\u2019t like each other and lacked friendship.<\/p>\n

Soto and Lindor’s Drama Unfolds<\/h3>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a great relationship,\u201d Soto said. \u201cWe talk all the time in the game and everything. We help each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mets clubhouse featured an odd dynamic \u2014 what would you expect when a team blows a comfortable playoff position? Now, the Mets welcome former Texas Rangers captain Marcus Semien<\/a>, the tools of Jorge Polanco<\/a>, the clutch production of Bo Bichette<\/a>, and the presence of Freddy Peralta<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want what\u2019s best for each other,\u201d Lindor said. \u201cAre we all best friends? That\u2019s not how it works. We\u2019re all friends. We love each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last season, rumors began circulating that the Mets were discussing making Lindor the team captain. These talks reportedly \u201cangered\u201d longtime Met Brandon Nimmo, which led to an eventual trade, the New York Post<\/a> reported earlier this offseason.<\/p>\n

Because of this, Mets owner Steve Cohen declared that as long as he is the owner, there will never be a team captain. Cohen said it is unusual for a team to have a captain, with the last Mets captain being David Wright<\/a>, the sole symbol of leadership in the organization. Besides Wright, the Mets have had just three other captains: Keith Hernandez<\/a>, John Franco<\/a>, and Gary Carter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

“As long as I’m owning the team, there will never be a team captain. That was my decision. My view is, the locker room is unique and let the locker room sort it out year-in, year-out.”<\/p>\n

– Steve Cohen pic.twitter.com\/ELWZXGQ88f<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SNY (@SNYtv) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n