Steve Cohen Declares No Captains for the New York Mets

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has firmly stated that the team will not name a captain as long as he remains in charge, effectively ending speculation about Francisco Lindor potentially assuming the role. The announcement, made on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the Mets’ spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, signals a departure from the team’s historical practice.

A Shift in Leadership Philosophy

Cohen explained his decision stems from a belief that clubhouse leadership should evolve organically, without a designated captain. “As long as I’m owning the team, there will never be a team captain,” Cohen said, adding that his preference is to “let the clubhouse itself figure things out year after year.” MLB.com

This approach contrasts with the Mets’ past, which saw four players hold the captaincy: Keith Hernandez (1987), Gary Carter, John Franco, and most recently, David Wright (2013-2018). The position has been vacant since Wright’s retirement following the 2018 season.

Lindor’s Leadership Not Enough

For years, Lindor was widely considered the natural successor to Wright, possessing both strong leadership qualities and a long-term contract with the team. Rumors intensified after a video surfaced last summer appearing to show Wright symbolically passing the torch to Lindor, though the video was quickly deleted. Yahoo Sports Despite this, and acknowledging Lindor’s leadership, Cohen maintained his stance against naming a captain.

A Rare Practice in Modern Baseball

Cohen also pointed out that the practice of naming a team captain is relatively uncommon in Major League Baseball. Currently, only two teams have designated captains: the New York Yankees (Aaron Judge) and the Kansas City Royals (Salvador Pérez). ESPN This contrasts with other major sports like American football and ice hockey, where multiple captains are common.

Cohen’s Vision for the Clubhouse

“My view is every year the team’s different and let the team kind of figure it out in the locker room without having the designation,” Cohen stated. He believes that imposing a captaincy can be restrictive and that allowing the clubhouse to self-organize fosters a more dynamic and responsive environment. ESPN

Cohen has held this belief since purchasing the Mets in November 2020, viewing it as a fundamental aspect of his ownership philosophy.