The New York Mets are in the midst of a season that's quickly spiraling, and the outlook from around the league is nothing short of brutal. After a painful collapse in 2025, the hangover has carried into 2026, with the Mets stumbling out of the gate to a 15-24 record. That puts them 11.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and seven games back of a Wild Card spot—a hole that's already deep enough to raise serious alarms.

According to a report from USA Today's Bob Nightengale, rival executives are sounding the alarm, and the consensus is stark: there's virtually no belief that the Mets can turn this ship around. "The Mets absolutely stink," Nightengale writes, summing up the sentiment from front offices across baseball. While it's still early May, the lack of faith from those who know the game best is a troubling sign for a team that spent big in the offseason.

Injuries have certainly played a role. Star shortstop Francisco Lindor has missed time, and Luis Robert Jr. has been banged up, leaving gaps in the lineup. But the bigger issue might be underperformance. Juan Soto, brought in to be a cornerstone, has struggled to find his rhythm, and too many players are falling well short of expectations. When your marquee names aren't producing, it's hard to inspire confidence—especially from the competition.

For Mets fans, the math isn't impossible yet, but the clock is ticking. With the trade deadline looming, the possibility of the Mets becoming sellers is no longer a stretch. After so much investment, the idea of blowing things up is a bitter pill. But if these rival execs are right, and the Mets can't find a way to reverse their fortunes soon, this season could go down as one of the most disappointing in recent memory.

For now, all eyes are on Carlos Mendoza's squad to see if they can prove the doubters wrong. But in the unforgiving world of MLB, hope can only carry you so far.