Mets honcho David Stearns continually emphasizes the need to improve “run prevention,” which makes sense following a disastrous 2025 season, when their fielding was below average and their pitching imploded.

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From here, pitching was the bigger issue. But Mets higher-ups seem especially dissatisfied with the defense. The Mets were 15th and 21st in defensive runs saved and outs above average, which isn’t great (but not much worse than Philly, who ranked 17th and 15th, respectively).

Here are my thoughts on what might be done about the defense (The pitching issue requires more space than I have here).

• Is Pete Alo

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