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

After a tumultuous year that involved ongoing speculation about clubhouse camaraderie and leadership, Mets owner Steve Cohen is starting off the new season by making his thoughts clear on naming a team captain in New York.

"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."

After signing star outfielder Juan Soto to the richest contract in league history in December 2024, the Mets endured a disappointing 2025 season. They finished 83-79 and in second place in the National League East behind the Philadelphia Phillies but fell just outside of the wild-card race, missing the playoffs.

Last season's struggles brought up speculation about strife in the locker room over, among other issues, whether players like star shortstop Francisco Lindor, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, first baseman Pete Alonso or others should take on more of a leadership role, including the potential of naming a team captain.

This season's clubhouse will be without Alonso, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent, and Nimmo -- formerly the longest-tenured player on the Mets -- who was traded to the Texas Rangers.

Starting pitcher David Peterson is now the player who's been wearing the Mets' uniform the longest, entering his seventh season in New York. He and 10-year veteran lefty Sean Manaea, who is coming up on his third season with the Mets, are two pitchers who could be in the mix when discussing leadership positions.

Away from the mound, new additions with potential for captain-like roles include infielders Marcus Semien, who came over in the trade for Nimmo, and Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, who were signed via free agency in the offseason.

"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 a 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, said he has "felt that way all along" about the captaincy and pointed out that it is unusual for MLB teams to have a designated captain.

Only the New York Yankees (Aaron Judge) and Kansas City Royals (Salvador Perez) currently have captains.

The Mets have not had a team captain since David Wright served in the role from 2013-18 and have only had three others in team history: Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and John Franco.

For his part, Manaea attempted to deflect questions on the topic.

"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