The New York Mets spent much of the offseason revamping their roster for the 2026 campaign. And yet, through the first couple of weeks, the results have looked largely the same as last year’s when they missed the playoffs entirely. Through 17 games, the Mets have just a 7-10 record, which has them sitting in last place in the National League East division.
Given the heightened expectations New York faces as one of the biggest market teams in the majors, fans don’t exactly have a ton of patience watching their favorite team struggle like this early in the year. And while that is understandable, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes the Mets need to be given some time to figure things out.
Ken Rosenthal Preaches Patience with the Mets
After missing the playoffs last year, the Mets spent the offseason gutting their roster. Guys like Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo departed, which seemingly dealt the team a major gut punch. However, the front office didn’t stand pat when it came to adding players, as it brought guys like Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, and Devin Williams to town.
Early on, though, the results haven’t been all that encouraging. With Juan Soto on the injured list, New York has struggled to consistently score runs, putting a lot of pressure on its pitching staff. Soto will return eventually, but without him, things are understandably going to be more difficult for the team as a whole.
With the Mets in the middle of a six-game losing streak, frustrations are already beginning to boil over, which isn’t a good sign considering how we aren’t even halfway through the month of April yet. Rosenthal understands why fans aren’t happy, but he believes New York needs to be given time to figure out how to put all the pieces of this puzzle together.
“They brought in a ton of new coaches,” Rosenthal said of the Mets on “Foul Territory.” “They brought in a number of new players, roster turnover like you rarely see for a team in that kind of payroll range. On top of that, they’ve lost Juan Soto. They haven’t had him for eight games … The season is barely 1/10th complete. You have to let this team breathe.”
Is it Time for the Mets to Panic?
GettyPORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Carlos Mendoza #64 of the New York Mets looks on during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 16, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
A 7-10 record through 17 games isn’t ideal, but considering how there are still 145 contests left on their schedule, the Mets have more than enough time to get on the right track. Losing Soto this early into the season has hurt, especially because it is making it more difficult for New York to figure out what its best lineup looks like.
The Mets can’t afford to keep losing, though, especially when they are going up against lowly opponents like the Athletics, who just swept New York over the weekend. Snapping this losing streak isn’t going to be easy, though, as the team is currently in the middle of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After suffering a 4-0 loss on Monday night, the Mets will be aiming to get back in the win column on Tuesday.
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