Steve Cohen: Mets will never have captain with me as owner

After a challenging year filled with speculation about clubhouse dynamics and leadership, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen made it clear that the team will not have a designated captain this season.

"As long as I'm owning the team, there will never be a team captain," Cohen said Monday during his annual spring training news conference. "That was my decision. My view is the locker room is unique, and let the locker room sort it out year in, year out."

Following the historic signing of star outfielder Juan Soto to the richest contract in league history in December 2024, the Mets struggled in 2025. The team finished 83-79, placing second in the National League East behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and just missed the wild-card race, falling short of the playoffs.

Last season's disappointing results fueled speculation about potential strife in the locker room, including questions about whether players like shortstop Francisco Lindor, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, and first baseman Pete Alonso should assume larger leadership roles, or even the possibility of naming a team captain.

This season, the clubhouse will look different. Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent, and Nimmo, the Mets’ longest-tenured player, was traded to the Texas Rangers.

Starting pitcher David Peterson now holds the distinction of wearing the Mets uniform the longest, entering his seventh season in New York. Alongside him, 10-year veteran left-hander Sean Manaea, in his third season with the team, could emerge as key voices in leadership discussions.

Off the field, new additions such as infielders Marcus Semien, acquired in the Nimmo trade, and free-agent signings Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, are expected to play influential roles in guiding the team.

"The way I see it, the way we see it, is we have a bunch of guys that are part of that leadership group," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "We lost a few guys that were part of that group. And then we gained some guys that have done that. When you're talking about a major-league locker room, you need to have not only one guy, but a few guys. That's what makes teams great."

Cohen, who has owned the Mets since 2020, reiterated that he has "felt that way all along" about the captaincy and noted that having a designated captain is rare in Major League Baseball. Only the New York Yankees, led by Aaron Judge, and the Kansas City Royals, led by Salvador Perez, currently have captains.

The Mets last had a team captain when David Wright served from 2013-2018. Only three others in team history have held the role: Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco.

For his part, Manaea downplayed the significance of the captaincy.

"With a captain, without a captain, we still have to play baseball, win baseball games," Manaea said. "I don't think anyone having a ‘C' on their chest really impacts that. It's the day in, day out of everyone doing their routines and jobs. I respect everyone in this room, and I hope everyone does the same for me because that's the camaraderie we want to build."

-Field Level Media/Reuters