After the Mets were eliminated from the postseason with a 4-0 loss to the host Miami Marlins, Carlos Mendoza shouldered the blame. “Since day one that I’ve been on this chair, you’ve been on the hot seat. It’s as simple as that.” Since the collapse of their league-leading record in June, Mendoza has been under heavy scrutiny with relentless firing calls. However, a Mets superfan and Cleveland Cavaliers’ $150 million star believes the criticism of Mendoza and Co. has been exaggerated.

Apparently, NBA star Donovan Mitchell happens to be a diehard New York Mets fan. He even FaceTimed Mets slugger Juan Soto when he signed a groundbreaking $765 million contract with his favorite club.

So, having followed all the Mets games, he witnessed the criticism constantly pouring in on the team and manager Mendoza after they fell out of postseason contention. Consequently, he firmly made a plea. He noted, “Please don’t start this; we just went to the NLCS….”

Mitchell made this plea on a Sleeper Mets post where they had stated, “Carlos Mendoza has completely over-managed this baseball game. It makes zero sense the way he’s handled the bullpen. It’s been happening all season long. It’s time to move on. Two years into the experiment, and it’s not working clearly.”

Mitchell is trying to remind the fans and analysts that it was only the last season when the Mets got into the postseason as a wild card on a tiebreaker over the D-Backs. They then knocked the Brewers out of playoff contention with a stunning comeback in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series.

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In contrast to 2024, the Mets have faltered this time. They were plagued by an injured starting rotation, an inconsistent offense, and sloppy errors that led to their elimination. Still, this isn’t the team that has missed the playoffs in consecutive years. And hence, Mitchell insisted the netizens go easy on the Mets.

He’s had a longtime family connection with the Mets organization. In fact, Mitchell’s dad, Donovan Mitchell Sr., was a minor league player before he became the Director of Player Relations in the 1990s. Given the dynamics, Mitchel was also present in the Mets’ clubhouse back when he was a kid.

Since then, the NBA star has been a prominent Mets fan. Now, moving forward, the Mets’ 2025 meltdown will guarantee that next year’s club will have some major changes.

Mets’ off-season to-do list starts with two crucial decisions

All of the Mets’ off-season planning first begins with figuring out the gaps Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz could leave since both are expected to opt out. Alonso has already made it known in the postgame media availability that he’s opting out after this season.

He expects to embark on a second round of free agency with a goal to land a better contract than his current one. This season, Alonso posted his best OPS (.871) since his rookie season while also crushing 38 home runs. He also drove in 126 runs and led the league with 41 doubles.

Meanwhile, when it comes to Diaz, it’s a bit complex. He has recorded an impressive season, recording a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves. He’d have two years and $37 million left on his contract. And also a club option for 2028 of $17.25 million in case he decides to opt in.

He could either test the market or get a new contract with the Mets. The immediate plan for Diaz is that he’s first returning home to Puerto Rico to make his final decision. If he does opt out, then Diaz added that he would “love to come back” to New York.