The New York Mets closed the 2026 season where almost no one expected: in last place. Despite carrying a roughly $357 million payroll, the second-highest in Major League Baseball, the Mets finished 73-86 and dead last in the NL East, their first cellar finish since 2003. With the season over, attention in Queens turns to the New York Mets 2027 season. Here is a look back at what went wrong, plus the 2027 schedule outlook and the key dates and questions shaping the offseason.
How the Mets’ 2026 season unraveled
New York entered 2026 with championship expectations after Juan Soto’s arrival and one of the largest payrolls in the sport. Instead, the season went sideways early. The Mets stumbled to a 7-16 start, ran off a 12-game losing streak, and never recovered, finishing 73-86 and 20 games back in the division. It was the franchise’s first last-place finish in the NL East since 2003.
The spending made the finish sting more. At about $357 million, the Mets carried the second-highest payroll in baseball, roughly $5 million per win. For comparison, the Dodgers spent more, about $408 million, but turned it into 97 wins, or about $4.2 million per win. The gap between the checkbook and the standings became the defining story of the Mets’ year.
The front office acted midseason. With the team at 34-47, the Mets dismissed manager Carlos Mendoza and named Andy Green interim manager for the rest of the way. The permanent managerial decision is now one of the biggest items on the offseason to-do list.
New York Mets 2027 schedule: what we know
MLB typically releases the following season’s full schedule the summer before, so the complete 2027 slate, with exact dates, opponents and start times, firms up over the coming months. As those details lock in, our New York Mets 2027 schedule page tracks the printable calendar, dates and opponents, and our printable 2027 MLB schedule by team covers all 30 clubs in one place. For the leaguewide launch, see the 2027 MLB Opening Day schedule.
Once the grid is official, expect the usual anchors: a late-March or early-April Opening Day, the Subway Series dates with the Yankees, and the holiday and rivalry weekends that shape every MLB calendar.
Key questions for the Mets’ 2027 offseason
Three storylines will define the winter. First, the manager: Andy Green closed 2026 on an interim basis, and naming the permanent skipper sets the tone for everything else. Second, the roster and payroll: with Soto signed long term and a top-two payroll already on the books, the front office has to decide how aggressively to retool around the core. Third, the bounce-back: no team spending at this level expects a repeat of 2026, so 2027 becomes a referendum on the plan.
More 2027 MLB from Sports Brackets
- New York Mets 2027 schedule (printable, dates and opponents)
- Printable 2027 MLB schedule by team
- 2027 MLB Opening Day schedule
- 2027 MLB on TV: national broadcast schedule
Mets 2027 FAQ
Did the Mets make the playoffs in 2026?
No. The Mets finished 73-86 and last in the NL East, missing the postseason.
When does the 2027 Mets schedule come out?
MLB usually releases the next season’s full schedule the prior summer. Check our New York Mets 2027 schedule page for the printable calendar and dates as they are confirmed.
Who is the Mets manager for 2027?
Carlos Mendoza was dismissed midseason at 34-47 and Andy Green took over on an interim basis. The permanent manager is part of the Mets’ offseason decisions.
Record and payroll figures via Baseball-Reference and public reporting; 2027 schedule details are subject to MLB’s official release.
