After a historic collapse this season, the New York Mets might be looking for a complete overhaul of the coaching staff. Or at least that is what it is looking like after the moves they have made over the past hours. After the news of Desi Druschel, the pitching coach, leaving the Mets for the Yankees, there is a new one.

It was reported by Insider Jeff Passan that, “The New York Mets and first-base coach Antoan Richardson have not come to terms on a new contract and Richardson is expected to leave the organization, sources told ESPN. Richardson was lauded for his work with Mets baserunners and will seek another job when his contract expires.” Fans are questioning this move, and looking back, they might be right.

Reportedly, the New York Mets are parting ways with first-base coach Antoan Richardson after contract talks stalled. But Richardson, who joined the Mets in December 2023, was instrumental in shaping the team’s aggressive baserunning approach. Under his guidance, the Mets stole 147 bases in 165 attempts last season, ranking fifth in MLB.

His work was most visible through Juan Soto, who tied for the National League lead with 38 steals. Soto became just the fifth Met to join the 30-30 club, crediting Richardson for his development and confidence on the basepaths.

The team also set a record with 39 consecutive successful stolen-base attempts, showing how Richardson’s approach directly improved player execution.

Richardson’s exit adds to a growing list of staff changes following the departures of hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, and bench coach John Gibbons.

The Mets are rebuilding their coaching structure under Carlos Mendoza, with Troy Snitker and Kai Correa already joining the staff. But for a team trying to rediscover consistency, losing a coach tied so closely to its recent success will be felt deeply.

Antoan Richardson’s exit, like Desi Druschel’s, feels less like change and more like confusion. If this overhaul keeps up, Carlos Mendoza might soon need a coach to coach the coaches.

Mets fans stunned as key coach reportedly departing

Just when Mets fans thought the offseason chaos couldn’t get any messier, it somehow did. The team that broke stolen-base records is now losing the man who helped make it happen. Antoan Richardson’s situation with the New York Mets isn’t just another staffing shuffle; it’s a reality check. The Mets might be rebuilding, but this move feels like pulling bricks from their own foundation.

“This is a really bad look for the Mets” captures what most fans are thinking tonight. With one of baseball’s biggest payrolls in 2025, the Mets still missed October entirely. Yet, their 147 steals and 89.1 percent success rate showed rare efficiency in chaos. Letting Antoan Richardson walk after that feels less like progress and more like self-sabotage.

“This is the slowest team in baseball this year and yet had one of the highest stolen-base totals.” The Mets held an average sprint speed of just 26.9 ft/sec, placing them among MLB’s slowest squads. Despite that, the team swiped 147 bases in 165 attempts, ranking 5th in the league. That contrast highlights Antoan Richardson’s ability to improve a roster through technique and scouting for SB opportunities.

“Richardson may want a promotion” feels like the most reasonable theory in this situation. After transforming the Mets into an 89.1 percent success-rate baserunning team, he’s earned that right. It’s no secret “Richardson is aware of how much value he added,” and other teams surely noticed. With several MLB coaching jobs open, a bidding war wouldn’t be surprising. The Mets, meanwhile, have faced whispers about not being the most coach-friendly environment lately.

“Just a dumb organization doing dumb things” sums up the frustration boiling among Mets fans tonight. Many believe David Stearns and Steve Cohen are trying to save pennies in the wrong places. Richardson reportedly earned around $400,000, a small figure considering his role in 147 stolen bases. Fans see it as cost-cutting when the Mets already carried MLB’s highest payroll in 2025. For a team that spent over $340 million and still missed October, optics matter.

“Turned Soto into a top 30 baserunner, and this is what he gets” feels justified. Juan Soto stole 38 bases in 2025, shattering his previous career high of 12. His jumps, reads, and confidence were clear products of Richardson’s coaching and preparation. Under him, Soto even tied for the National League lead in stolen bases. Losing the coach who sparked that transformation leaves fans questioning the Mets’ sense of timing.

Antoan Richardson didn’t just coach bases; he coached belief into a struggling, overpaid roster. Now, with Stearns and Cohen preaching efficiency, they’ve quietly lost one of their most efficient minds. For a team chasing progress, the Mets sure have a strange way of running toward it.