If there is one thing that is going to make Atlanta Braves fans feel better about their current standing, it is watching the New York Mets. A poorly run franchise that attempted to spend its way to 2025 relevance and still missed the playoffs even after handing Juan Soto a 15-year $765 million deal in the previous offseason. Now, the roster has continued to devolve with star slugger Pete Alonso opting out of his contract and infielder Jeff McNeil being shopped.
Making this situation all the more hilarious for Atlanta fans is the fact that New York spent over $100 million more than Atlanta for the 2025 roster. This feat earned the Mets an overwhelming 7 more wins than the Braves managed and the same seat on the couch in the postseason. The Mets weren't close and don't have Atlanta's advantage of being able to blame the never-ending injuries as the reason for their 2025 demise.
Now, you've lost Alonso to free agency and appear to be attempting to part ways with McNeil, who has underachieved since being extended. The Mets are objectively in a mess as the third-best roster in the division and a payroll that cannot be escaped.
Braves Fans Can Find Offseason Amusement in New York Mets Demise
This is in no way meant to discount the obvious work the Braves have ahead of them during the 2026 offseason. There is no shortage of roster issues or areas the franchise can improve in the next three months. However, this doesn't prevent fans from sitting back and enjoying the misery of a hated rival. It also serves as a warning that you cannot simply buy your way into relevance.
While the Braves have been increasingly cheap in solving their obvious roster problems, the Mets opted to throw top dollar at every position. Neither strategy worked well, but it remains clear that Atlanta's strategy at least leaves the franchise in a far better position. The Braves will be able to retool and fix the roster; for the Mets, it is hard to see what path the franchise can take to return to relevance.
Having a top-dollar payroll clearly isn't getting it done and has left players like Alonso ready to walk away while the franchise attempts to move off a clear mistake in McNeil. All of this paints a fun picture for Atlanta fans to sit back and enjoy as they look for distractions from the key offseason ahead.
At this stage of the offseason, the National League East is a one-team race with New York's ineptitude ruling them out for the 2026 season. This leaves all of the pressure on Atlanta's front office to put together a group capable of posing a threat to the defending division champion Philadelphia Phillies.