Mets Owner Steve Cohen Apologizes Following Playoff Miss After Second-Half Collapse

In the wake of the New York Mets' disappointing failure to reach the playoffs, team owner Steve Cohen issued a public apology to fans on Monday via social media. This statement came a day after the Mets were defeated 4-0 by the Miami Marlins, a loss that eliminated their postseason hopes despite a potential opportunity to qualify with a victory.\n\n"Mets fans everywhere. I owe you an apology," Cohen wrote on X, reflecting on the team's collapse. "You did your part by showing up and supporting the team. We didn’t do our part. We will do a post-mortem and figure out the obvious and less obvious reasons why the team didn’t perform up to your and my expectations."\n\nThe Mets had been one of the league’s top teams, holding a 45-24 record as of June 21 and maintaining first place as recently as August 2. However, their performance plummeted in the second half, going 38-55 to close the season at 83-79. Their struggles included a critical stretch with a 7-14 record, compounded by an eight-game losing streak that began on September 6.\n\nThis downturn occurred despite the organization investing $340 million in payroll. Cohen acknowledged the emotional toll on everyone involved, saying, "We are all feeling raw emotions today. I know how much time and effort you have put into this team. The result was unacceptable. Your emotions tell me how much you care and continues to motivate the organization to do better. Thank You to the best fans in sports."\n\nSince becoming a minority owner in 2012 and acquiring majority ownership in November 2020 from Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, Cohen has seen the team endure fluctuations. Notably, the Mets experienced another late-season collapse in 2021 before achieving 101 wins in 2022 but exiting in the wild-card round. Last season, the Mets reached the National League Championship Series but were defeated by the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, preventing an all-New York World Series match-up.\n\nLooking ahead, significant roster changes appear imminent. Veteran first baseman Pete Alonso has already announced plans to opt out of the final year of his two-year, $54 million contract, which included a $24 million salary for 2026. The organization faces a critical offseason as it strives to rebuild and avoid a repeat of this year’s disappointing finish.