Juan Soto discusses Mets’ failure despite lofty expectations for 2025
After the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention on the season’s final day, Juan Soto discussed what went wrong on Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami.
As a team by the end of the 2025 season, many of the New York Mets‘ players admitted the run had been a failure.
Despite entering the campaign with World Series expectations, the Mets were squeezed out of the playoff picture on the regular season’s final day with a loss to the Marlins. They finished 83-79 and on the outside looking in.
While collectively, the Mets fell short of their baseline goal of competing in October, there were some players who lived up to the hype and others that fell short.
With the Mets home for the winter, here is how we believe each member of the team performed across the 2025 season:
Edwin Diaz
Arguably, the most consistent, dependable performer this season, racking up 28 saves, 99 strikeouts and a 1.63 ERA in 66⅓ innings.
Grade: A
Nolan McLean
One of the main reasons that there is hope for the Mets’ starting rotation heading into 2026. Notched a 5-1 record with a 2.06 ERA, 57 strikeouts in 48 innings. Spins the baseball among the best in the league.
Grade: A
Brooks Raley
Hit the ground running in his return from Tommy John surgery, keeping opponents off the scoreboard in 26 of his 30 outings to post a 2.45 ERA. Mets will be glad they have a club option on him for 2026.
Grade: A
Pete Alonso
Gave the Mets a lot to think about as he opts out of his final year after tagging 38 home runs, driving in 126 runs and raising his batting average 32 points. His defense, particularly throwing, left food for thought.
Grade: A-
Juan Soto
A lot to unpack with Soto, who nearly secured a rare 40-40 season, with 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases, along with 120 runs and 107 RBI. He batted .263 with a .396 OBP, yet the clutch moments often eluded him and his defense was average.
Grade: A-
Clay Holmes
Most Mets fans would have signed up for 165⅔ innings, a team-high 12 wins and a 3.53 ERA in Holmes’ first season molding himself back into a starting pitcher. Skidded some in the second half to see a reduced role.
Grade: B+
Brett Baty
One of the brighter spots in a grim 2025 season, the 25-year-old showed he could be counted upon as an above-average glove at both third and second base. Career season included 18 home runs, 50 RBI and 53 runs. As the Mets fell, Baty rose with a .291 average in the second half.
Grade: B+
Francisco Lindor
Lindor’s season mirrored that of the Mets, with notable peaks and valleys. Avoided a rough opening month, but had paltry months of June and July, followed by an electric August. Still finished 30-30 with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases. His glove was not quite up to his elite standard.
Grade: B
Brandon Nimmo
Plenty of positives for Nimmo, who set career highs in games played (155), home runs (25) and RBI (92). Was also the Mets’ best at hitting with runners in scoring position (.310).
Grade: B
Francisco Alvarez
Took a mid-season demotion in stride and came back to produce a .276/.360/.561 slash line with eight home runs, 21 RBI and 22 runs in 41 games upon his return. Earns a mark by playing with a sprained thumb ligament and fractured pinkie.
Grade: B
Luis Torrens
Where would the Mets have been without Torrens amid Alvarez’s early-season injury and demotion? Did just enough offensively and was a wizard behind the plate, throwing 20 of opponent’s 49 steal attempts (40.8 percent).
Grade: B
Tyler Rogers
Was largely the most dependable trade-deadline acquisition down the stretch, but the hiccups and his nose for pitching to contact loomed large in the playoff race. Allowed seven earned runs in 27⅓ innings with 12 holds for the Mets, but was 0-3 with one blown save.
Grade: B-
Starling Marte
Marte’s reduced role enabled him to stay on the field for the majority of the 2025 season. His .270 average only trailed Alonso and he finished with nine home runs and 23 extra base hits, but his performance wavered at key moments down the stretch.
Grade: B-
Huascar Brazoban
By the end of the season, after spending a month in Triple-A Syracuse, Brazoban showed himself well down the stretch with his ability to eat multiple innings. Closed with a 3.57 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Grade: B-
Jeff McNeil
McNeil’s dropoff was precipitous over the final three weeks, contributing to the Mets’ collapse. Was slashing .266/.357/.457 with 12 home runs, 50 RBI and 40 runs on Sept. 3. Finished 8-for-64 with (.125) with two runs and four RBI. Tough to deny the strong start and versatility, but his finish was one of Mets’ worst.
Grade: B-
David Peterson
Left-hander’s fall from one of the Mets’ most trustworthy first-half starting pitchers was one of the big reasons the team faded down the stretch. After posting a 3.06 first-half ERA, Peterson’s second-half mark was 6.34.
Grade: C+
Tyrone Taylor
Might best be served in a platoon role, but emerged as the Mets’ most essential center fielder by season’s end with his elite glove, arm and sprint speed in center field. Got hot in August and September but was injured and finished with a .598 OPS.
Grade: C+
Gregory Soto
After a strong start to his Mets’ tenure, allowing no earned runs in his first 10 appearances, he came untethered down the stretch, allowing 12 earned runs in his final 15 appearances as his ERA ballooned from 3.11 to 4.18.
Grade: C-
Kodai Senga
It was a tale of two halves for Senga. Before a hamstring injury, he was 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA and six starts of at least six innings. After? He was 0-3 with 5.90 ERA in his last nine starts before being demoted.
Grade: C-
Mark Vientos
Could not replicate the rise that had placed him among the most exciting young players in the organization entering 2025. Finished with a .233/.289/.413 slash line with 17 home runs and 61 RBI. Caught fire in August but dropped off when it mattered and stumbled defensively.
Grade: D+
Ryne Stanek
Once Carlos Mendoza’s most trusted reliever during their 2024 run, the right-handed fireballer turned in arguably the worst season of his career. Finished 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 65 appearances.
Grade: D
Sean Manaea
Never found his footing after suffering an oblique injury in spring training. His first four starts in July, Manaea allowed one earned run each time, but from there, he allowed four earned runs or more in six of his 10 appearances. He never pitched six full innings.
Grade: D-
Ryan Helsley
Helsley’s start to his Mets tenure played a major role in dooming their playoff prospects. In his first 16 appearances, he allowed 16 earned runs, blew four saves and suffered three losses. By the time he sorted it out, other issues emerged across the roster.
Grade: F
Cedric Mullins
Brought in to shore up the Mets’ glaring hole in center field and was not even featured prominently down the stretch. Taylor seemed to provide more polished defense and Mullins slashed .182/.284/.281 with two home runs, 10 RBI and 35 strikeouts in 42 games with the Mets.
Grade: F
Carlos Mendoza
Despite getting out to the best start in baseball, Mendoza could never help the Mets regather the pieces as they began their slide in late June and early July. When a team underperforms, the manager takes at least some of the blame, and Mendoza could never fully get his team back on track.
Grade: D
David Stearns
President of baseball operations took some swings, landed the big name in Soto and a few offseason wins in Holmes and bringing back Alonso. His 2025 campaign will be remembered for his inability to fortify the team’s starting rotation and the struggles of his deadline acquisitions.
Grade: C-
INCOMPLETE: Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio