The New York Mets have stumbled through the first quarter of the season, but president of baseball operations David Stearns isn't hitting the panic button just yet. Despite entering Tuesday with the worst record in baseball at 15-25, Stearns expressed confidence that this roster—one he carefully assembled over the winter—still has what it takes to compete.

"We have not shown that yet," Stearns admitted before Tuesday night's blowout win over the Tigers, "but I do believe that [we can go on a run]." He pointed to the talent and character in the clubhouse, trusting that the team will soon start performing to expectations.

But faith alone won't fix a struggling lineup. Stearns revealed that the search for external upgrades is already underway. The recent promotion of top prospect A.J. Ewing, who provided an immediate spark in his memorable debut against Detroit, could be just the beginning of a larger shakeup.

"We are always looking and always seeing if we can improve the team," Stearns said. "As all of you know, this isn't the most vibrant time of the year for external trades, but we're going to be open minded and we're certainly going to look to see if there are ways we can improve the team in constructive ways."

The Mets also have internal options knocking on the door. In Triple-A Syracuse, slugging first baseman Ryan Clifford, speedy outfielder Nick Morabito, and right-handed starter Jack Wenninger are all turning heads. Wenninger, in particular, has been dominant, lowering his ERA to 1.08 after tossing five scoreless innings on Tuesday—extending his scoreless streak to 16 2/3 frames.

However, if the Mets' season continues to spiral, those prospect call-ups could take on a different meaning. At a certain point, if the team can't climb out of this early-season hole, it would be irresponsible not to shift focus toward the future. For now, though, Stearns is keeping his options open—both inside and outside the organization.

For fans looking to gear up for the next chapter, stay tuned: whether it's a blockbuster trade or the next wave of young talent, the Mets are clearly ready to make moves.