Mets Face Reckoning After Missing Playoffs Despite Record Payroll, ESPN Reports

The New York Mets will not be playing in the postseason for a second consecutive year despite fielding one of baseball's most expensive rosters, ESPN reported in an analysis of the club's 2026 season.

According to the report, the Mets' payroll ranked among the highest in Major League Baseball this year, yet the team again failed to qualify for October play. ESPN said the outcome has intensified scrutiny of decisions made by owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns as the organization looks ahead to 2027.

The report examined the performances of key figures on the roster, including outfielder Juan Soto, shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Kodai Senga, as part of a broader look at what went wrong and what the franchise might change going forward.

ESPN's analysis framed the season as a missed opportunity for a team that had invested heavily in talent, suggesting the front office now faces choices about roster construction, player development and organizational strategy as it attempts to return to postseason contention.

The report did not specify what concrete changes, if any, the Mets plan to make before the 2027 season. ESPN indicated further coverage would address the team's offseason decisions in the coming months.