PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Steve Cohen's patience is wearing thin as the New York Mets embark on their most dramatic offseason makeover in years. After missing the playoffs on the final day of the 2025 season, the Mets' billionaire owner watched his front office trade away four franchise stalwarts -- Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil -- before launching a December spending spree that brought in Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers.

The roster purge began with the surprising November trade of Nimmo to Texas for Marcus Semien, followed by the departures of Diaz and Alonso to free agency. Cohen, who purchased the Mets in 2020 with a promise to win a World Series within three to five years, is now in Year 6 of his ownership without a championship. "I'm absolutely annoyed," Cohen admitted, noting this season marks the 40th anniversary of the franchise's last title in 1986.

Baseball operations president David Stearns, who orchestrated the roster reconstruction, emphasized the need for better defense and pitching after the 2025 team's collapse. The Mets gave Juan Soto baseball's richest contract last winter, but Stearns used this offseason to reshape the team's DNA. With Bichette's four-year, $170 million deal and multiple trades completed in a week, New York is betting that versatility and run prevention will end their four-decade championship drought.