There’s a certain kind of ache that settles in when a season falls apart slowly instead of in one dramatic crash. The New York Mets lived inside that feeling for most of the summer. They started 2025 looking like one of baseball’s sharpest, most complete contenders, only to watch the middle of their season unravel under the weight of injuries, slumps, and a few too many moments where their stars felt mortal. An 83-79 record doesn’t sound catastrophic, but for a team built to win now, missing the postseason on the final weekend left a sting that hasn’t faded.

The Mets don’t need a teardown. They know that. They still have Juan Soto anchoring the offense, Francisco Lindor’s leadership and all-around skill, and enough frontline talent to compete.

But they also understand that standing still

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