January 1, Mets Collapse Ends Playoff Hopes Despite Big Spending

Wyatt’s Take

• The Mets started the season strong but fell apart when it mattered most.
• Big money deals didn’t keep them from another playoff disappointment.
• Pride in the team’s heart never showed up when New York needed it.

The Mets kicked off the 2025 season with big dreams after signing Juan Soto from the Yankees to a huge contract. They jumped out with one of the best records in baseball, going 45-24 by mid-June.

But things went downhill quick. They finished the year 83-79 after a brutal 38-55 stretch, their playoff hopes crushed on the season’s last day with a 4-0 loss to the Miami Marlins.

“I take responsibility. I’m the manager. It starts with me. I’ve got to take a long look here, how I need to get better,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters.

Despite spending more than $341 million this season, second most in Major League Baseball, their lineup fizzled out when games mattered. Soto’s $765 million deal wasn’t enough to bring the Mets back to October baseball.

A poorly timed eight-game losing skid sealed their fate, and even late wins couldn’t save them. New York only managed one win in the crucial Miami series, stumbling with 11-17 in August and 10-15 in September.

Now, the Mets miss the postseason for the seventh time in nine years, leaving fans wondering if all that spending is just talk.

Good teams push through hard times, not just good paydays. That’s the lesson the Mets will take into another long winter.

Wyatt Matters

Folks in Middle America know that buying pride in the offseason never replaces grit when it’s crunch time on the field. In the heartland, it’s hard work and sticking it out that count, not just big promises and bigger paychecks.

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