Mets insider says team could let star slugger walk if he doesn’t take a team

The New York Mets find themselves at a familiar crossroads — one that tests not only their wallet but their philosophy. On one side stands Steve Cohen, baseball’s wealthiest owner and an unapologetic fan of the franchise he now controls. On the other is David Stearns, a calculated, efficiency-obsessed architect who has long preferred precision over emotion.

Together, they’re trying to build a sustainable winner. But the question now looming over Citi Field is simple: can that approach coexist with the heart of the team, Pete Alonso?

The Power and the Principle

Stearns’ reputation precedes him. In Milwaukee, he turned a small-market club into a perennial contender by squeezing value from every dollar and avoiding the kind of long, risky contracts that so often cripple teams later. He’s d