![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC_1407-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Steve")
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Steve Cohen (Rob Cuni\/AMNY)<\/p>\n
So much for all that speculation about Francisco Lindor one day accepting the official role as New York Mets captain, and joining the likes of Keith Hernandez, John Franco, and David Wright.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as I\u2019m owning the team, there will never be a team captain,\u201d team owner Steve Cohen told reporters down in Port St. Lucie on Monday (h\/t SNY<\/a>). \u201cThat was my decision. My view is, the locker room is unique and let the locker room sort it out year-in, year-out.\u201d<\/p>\n Talks of a team captain started gaining traction last spring when it was reported that Mets brass had discussed the idea. Lindor, along with veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo, was deemed the top option. As the season progressed, rumors swirled that Lindor would be named the captain during Wright\u2019s jersey number retirement ceremony at Citi Field on July 19.\u00a0<\/p>\n That never happened, and while the Mets spiraled from the best team in baseball to one that completely missed the playoffs, talks of a fractured clubhouse came to the forefront.\u00a0Nimmo is now gone, traded to the Texas Rangers, while Lindor and Juan Soto recently had to try to dispell the notion that they were at odds last season while things went south.<\/a><\/p>\n According to Cohen, there was never any legitimate progress toward a captain being named.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThere will never be a captain. I\u2019ve felt that way all along,\u201d he concluded.\n<\/p>\n Playoffs remain the bare minimum<\/p>\n Following an offseason of significant roster turnover, Cohen said that the \u201ctable stakes\u201d are making the playoffs.\n<\/p>\n \u201cGot to make the playoffs,\u201d he said. \u201cI missed the playoffs last year, and missing two years in a row is not good. Then obviously you want to go deep.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Consistent success has evaded Cohen since taking over the team following the 2020 season. The Mets have made the postseason just twice in Cohen\u2019s first five seasons in charge, and last year\u2019s collapse, coupled with this being the 40th anniversary of their last World Series title, is ramping the pressure up.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m annoyed. I\u2019m absolutely annoyed,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cEvery year that goes by, I get frustrated. Listen, I\u2019m really committed to this team. I know how much the fans care. I know we\u2019re celebrating the 40th anniversary of 1986, and that\u2019s just too long. There\u2019s a lot of great teams out there. No matter what you do, it doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll necessarily win the World Series, but I just want to put myself in the position every year in the playoffs where we have a chance with a really good team.\u201d<\/p>\n Even after the departure of Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and closer Edwin Diaz \u2014 to which the Mets responded by acquiring Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Bo Bichette, Semien, and Luis Robert Jr. \u2014 the Mets are projected by PECOTA to finish with 88 wins, which would make them the top NL Wild Card seed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like there\u2019s a different energy here this year than last year,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is. It just feels really optimistic. A lot of new faces. I\u2019m really excited by this team.\u201d<\/p>\n