Podcast Summary: The Windup — Starkville | Mets President of Baseball Ops David Stearns Talks About Their Rollercoaster Season

Podcast: The Windup: A Show About Baseball
Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville (with guest David Stearns, President of Baseball Operations, New York Mets)

Episode Overview

This Starkville episode features a wide-ranging and candid discussion with New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns about the Mets' tumultuous 2025 season. Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville explore the ups and downs of the Mets' performance, the integration of a trio of rookie pitchers, midseason strategies, player development philosophies, the high-profile signing of Juan Soto, and the enduring impact of franchise icons like Pete Alonso and the late Davey Johnson. The episode maintains the show's signature mix of analytics, storytelling, humor, and trivia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recapping the Mets’ Rollercoaster Season

• Mets’ Three Seasons in One:
  • Early surge: Opened the season 21 games over .500 by June 12.
  • Midseason collapse: Next 53 games, 19-34 record (-15).
  • Recent resurgence: 12 wins in last 20 games as of recording.
• Defense & Pitching as Barometers:
  • The initial hot stretch was driven by superior run prevention: pitching, defense, and avoiding mistakes.
  • Subsequent struggles traced to injuries, underperformance of starters/bullpen, and defensive lapses.
  • Recent improvement has reignited optimism for a postseason run.

Quote:
"I've been saying that for the last two and a half, three months... we've yet to put our entire team together at once playing well. The good news is we still have time to do that."
— David Stearns (06:18)

2. Mets’ Pitching Development: From Veterans to Rookies

• Veteran Revitalizations & Youth Movement:
  • Success stories with veteran arms (Severino, Quintana, Manaea).
  • Transition to a rookie-heavy rotation: Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, Nolan McLean — three rookie starters in a row for first time in franchise history.
• Stearns’ Philosophy:
  • Attributes success to “players and the development staff," not just his own approach.
  • Credits coaching for prepping rookies both mentally and physically to perform under pressure.
  • Noted fast-tracking of rookie pitchers was ahead of internal expectations.

Quote:
"That's very unusual, and that's a credit to, first and foremost, the players and their presence and their maturity level... And then all the coaches who went in, who have played a part in their development."
— David Stearns (08:46)

• Are Workload Limits in Play?
  • Mets avoid rigid innings thresholds but meticulously monitor workloads for signs of fatigue (18:41).
  • Aims to extend pitchers well into October, keeping health at the forefront.

3. Rookie Outlook: Nolan McLean, Sproat, and Tong

• Nolan McLean’s Trajectory:
  • Drafted before Stearns’ tenure; recognized as a highly athletic two-way college player with untapped mound potential.
  • Praised for poise, confidence, coachability, and ability to handle adversity.
  • Quickly became a fan favorite and key contributor.

Quote:
"He is confident but not overly arrogant... There's not a lot that can faze him... That in and of itself is a skill. And sometimes that can be a difficult skill to teach."
— David Stearns (13:24)

• Historical Precedent & Future Outlook:
  • Only two teams in MLB history have started three rookies in the same postseason.
  • Stearns says playoff rotation planning is strictly “turn-by-turn” at this point.

4. Trade Deadline Reflections: Bullpen Moves & Market Dynamics

• Strategic Focus in 2025:
  • Mets targeted relievers at the deadline (Soto, Rodgers, Helsley), as starter prices were prohibitive and would have cost them prospects now contributing.
  • Emphasis on shortening playoff games with high-leverage relievers.
• Outcome Realities:
  • Mixed results: Soto and Rodgers have been strong; Helsley has struggled but retains confidence from the team.

Quote:
"The prices for starting pitchers were high and in many cases would have cost us one of the players that's helping us right now."
— David Stearns (20:15)

• On Trade Deadline Hype:
  • Trade deadline is “overhyped”—blockbuster impact is rare; most changes are incremental.

Quote:
"We absolutely overhype the deadline and we probably underhype the minor moves that are made in the offseason..."
— David Stearns (22:22)

• Stearns’ View: Loves the chaos and challenge of the deadline: "That's kind of why you do these jobs." (23:43)

5. Juan Soto: Superstar Impact & Free Agency Process

• On-Field Excellence & Adaptation:
  • Impressed by Soto’s in-game adjustments and hunger to outthink opponents; sees each at-bat as a personal battle.
  • Added more baserunning/stolen bases to his game, aspiring for a 40-40 season.

Quote:
"Every at bat it feels like he is learning something or trying to learn something about what the opposition is trying to do with him. And generally he's a step ahead..."
— David Stearns (25:12)

• Free Agency Saga:
  • Described as “as unique a process as I’ve ever been through.”
  • Fierce competition among big-market teams, with Mets owner Steve Cohen pivotal in securing Soto.
  • Soto’s existing experience in New York, though “across the river,” and his personality made a signing with the Mets plausible.

6. "Playing in New York" and Clubhouse Chemistry

• What It Takes to Thrive:
  • Stearns equates NY, Boston, Philly: bigger spotlight, higher intensity, more media scrutiny.
  • Success hinges on “recognition it’s just a different job” – players, managers, execs must adapt to heightened stakes.

Quote:
"Everything is just bigger. And when you mount up the bigness of it for 162 games over six months, it's a different environment."
— David Stearns (29:06)

• On Pete Alonso’s Future as a Met:
  • Alonso’s history, production, and fan connection are all factored in (without addressing contract specifics).
  • Draws a parallel to how Aaron Judge’s Yankee legacy was valued by his organization.

7. Remembering Davey Johnson & Mets History

• Davey Johnson’s Influence:
  • Lauded as the Mets’ greatest manager, ahead of his time for blending data and player autonomy.
  • Stearns notes the modern emphasis on data and human element was Johnson’s calling card in the 80s/90s.

Quote:
"He did was combine this ability to allow players to be themselves... with a desire to learn and rely upon data."
— David Stearns (32:00)

8. Childhood Nostalgia & Mets Fandom

• Memorable Seven Train Moment:
  • Stearns vividly recalls the 1999 NLDS Game 4 (Todd Pratt’s walkoff HR).
  • Personal anecdote highlights the intergenerational joy of baseball fandom—bonding with his grandfather, stories of old New York legends.

[Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments]

• On Running a Team in NY:

  • "I don't get the sense that any of these three guys is or will be overwhelmed by the moment ... But I don't think it's going to be because they're beating themselves." (16:44)

• On Soto’s Mentality:

  • "He does look at this pitcher-batter interaction as a battle. Like every time it's a one-on-one competition between him and the guy on the mound and he hates losing those competitions." (25:12)

• On the Deadline’s Real Impact:

  • "Most of the time it's generally more of an incremental change or upgrade to your team that may not have quite the impact that everyone who's writing about it or opining about it is going to identify on deadline day." (22:22)

[Detailed Timestamps for Key Segments]

• [06:18] - Stearns on the “real” Mets and dissecting the season’s swings
• [08:46] - Philosophy on pitching development and successful rookie transitions
• [11:01] - Integrating three rookie starters and the surprise pace of their MLB readiness
• [13:24] - On Nolan McLean’s mentality and makeup
• [18:41] - Monitoring rookies’ workloads & playoff considerations
• [20:15] - Trade deadline bullpen strategy and market dynamics
• [22:22] - Overhyping of the trade deadline and its true impact
• [23:43] - Stearns’ personal view on the thrill and chaos of the deadline
• [25:12] - Juan Soto’s approach, impact, and mindset
• [27:13] - Unprecedented pursuit of Juan Soto: negotiations, ownership, and winning the sweepstakes
• [29:06] - "Playing in New York," intensity, and market size
• [31:03] - Pete Alonso’s leadership, legacy, and possible parallels to Judge/Yankees
• [32:00] - Reflecting on Davey Johnson’s legacy as a precursor to modern management
• [33:42] - Childhood Mets fandom anecdote: the magic of “the 7 train” and the 1999 NLDS

[Trivia & "Strange but True" Segment (36:51+)]

• Strange but True: Segment starts at [36:51], relays the wild ending of a Dodgers-Orioles game—no-hitter lost on a 2-out/9th-inning HR, then game lost in the same ninth. Jayson Stark investigates and provides entertaining historical context.
• Listener Trivia with Paul McCord: Segment (47:41+) covers catchers with multiple 30 HR seasons as catchers. The hosts narrowly miss a perfect score, prompting lots of fun banter.

[Overall Tone & Style]

• Conversational, humorous, insightful: The hosts use wit and inside-jokes to make complex topics accessible. Stearns’ answers are candid yet measured, providing rare behind-the-scenes perspective.
• Deeply informed by stats, history, and personal anecdotes.
• Audience participation: Trivia and listener engagement drive much of the episode’s energy.

[Takeaways for the Uninitiated]

• The 2025 Mets season has been a wild ride, with both elite highs and concerning lows—mostly explained by fluctuations in pitching, defense, health, and player development.
• The club’s ability to integrate rookie pitchers is notable; the choice to invest in bullpen arms at the deadline is a reflection of both market realities and postseason strategy.
• Stearns provides a thoughtful look into managing stars (e.g., Soto, Alonso) in a high-pressure market, and the organization’s balance of tradition and innovation.
• The episode is peppered with humor and thoughtful baseball trivia, creating an immersive experience for any fan of the game.