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This year’s New York Mets are the new worst team money can buy.
The Mets’ $329 million payroll, the largest in the league, has been for naught as they are currently tied for the fourth-worst record in the major leagues.
And looking back at the 2026 Mets, no matter how many years to come, Wednesday’s debacle will be known as this team’s microcosm.
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Marcus Semien of the New York Mets holds the ball after a teammate’s error allowed Carson Kelly of the Chicago Cubs to reach first base at Citi Field in New York City on June 24, 2026. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Mets hosted the Chicago Cubs for a day-night doubleheader and lost the first half of it, 10-3, much to the delight of Norwegian fans at the ballpark. Three hours later, however, it got much worse.
The Mets committed six errors, their most in a game since 2014, and each of their four starting infielders committed one. That hasn’t happened in franchise history since 1962, the first year of the team’s existence, widely regarded as one of the worst teams in baseball history.
Even Francisco Lindor, known for his defensive prowess, made a mistake on the first ball that hit him after returning from injury.
Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets fields against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in New York City on June 24, 2026. The Cubs defeated the Mets 10-5. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NORWEGIAN WC FANS TURN CITI FIELD BLEACHERS INTO A VIKING LONG SHIP DURING METS GAME
Out of frustration, the Mets fans in attendance decided to chant Pete Alonso’s name — the Mets moved on from the fan favorite along with others after last year’s midseason collapse to miss the postseason.
Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz all left when the Mets opted for a “run prevention” system — but six errors in a game won’t exactly cut it.
Entering this series, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was hitting .183 with a .617 OPS, but in three games against the Mets, he is 7-for-12 and has driven in 15 of his 46 runs against them this season.
It’s a far cry from the “OMG Mets” team that rallied from a poor start just two years ago to an appearance in the National League Championship Series. In their current five-game losing streak, they are outscored 50-19.
Mark Vientos of the New York Mets reacts after a ninth inning error against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in New York City on June 24, 2026. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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New York is now 34-46 on the season, on pace to win fewer than 70 games. The Mets haven’t won 69 or fewer games in a 162-game season since 2003, when they went 66-95.
