NEW YORK — When Steve Cohen spoke Wednesday, his players listened.
The owner’s news conference played on the televisions in the Mets’ clubhouse and elsewhere inside Citi Field. As he laid bare his feelings on the team’s stunning struggles — deep disappointment, an acknowledgement that they will be trade-deadline sellers barring a turnaround — no piece of his portrayal registered as a true shocker.
At a time when every loss pushes them closer to that seller fate, which would be a metaphorical white flag on the season from the front office, the Mets suffered another Tuesday night, falling 3-2 to the Brewers.
That makes 18 losses in their past 24 games.
“It’s on the players,” Cohen said. It’s on them, they agreed.
“He is in a tough position, just like we are,” Justin Verlander said before the game. “You put together a team that you think is going to go out and compete for a championship, and we haven’t shown that ability. Well, we have shown that ability. We haven’t shown that consistency yet.
“I’m sure he feels a lot like we do in this clubhouse and the fan base does. It’s frustrating. It’s tough. You got a crystal ball, everybody wishes things went perfect. It surely has not. It’s gone quite the opposite.”
Mark Canha said: “It was on. We’re not blind. Everybody’s knows what’s happening. We just want to turn it around.”
The Mets’ latest loss was typical of them: They did just enough to not come out on top. Starling Marte struck out with the bases loaded to end the game.
The difference came in the seventh inning. When the Brewers (43-38) loaded the bases with one out, Brian Anderson managed a go-ahead sacrifice fly to centerfield. When the Mets (36-45) loaded the bases with one out, Marte grounded into a double play.
Verlander along with his fellow ace, Max Scherzer, were the only players Cohen was asked about by name during his 23-minute session. Responding to a question about whether he would consider trading them, Cohen didn’t say no, instead offering: “I don’t want to broach that topic. I haven’t gotten that far yet.”
The pitchers’ feelings on the subject matter because each has a no-trade clause in his contract.
But Verlander also didn’t want to talk about it.
“He said he wouldn’t even broach it,” Verlander said. “I’m not going to broach it if he didn’t broach it. I’m here to be a Met. I’m not giving up here by any means. I don’t even want to think about that. I’m still trying to figure out my own (stuff), man. I’m grinding every single day trying to get back to being the pitcher they brought me here to be. So that’s what I’m working on. I don’t have much time or energy for that other (stuff).”
Scherzer and Verlander each are making this year $43.3 million, the highest salary in major-league history, and are due to make the same next year (Scherzer via a player option if he exercises it).
If Cohen significantly paid down their salaries, as he expressed a willingness to do in a more general sense, the Mets could receive a pretty prospect penny in return. But it would leave them with a major rotation hole for 2024.
Both pitchers are trying to stabilize their individual seasons, too. Scherzer turned in his third consecutive quality start Thursday, lasting six innings and allowing two runs — both on Victor Caratini’s tying sixth-inning homer — against Milwaukee. Verlander’s five innings against the Brewers on Monday represented his first scoreless start out of 10 with the Mets.
Among the other candidates to get shipped out next month, if the Mets choose that path, are anybody on the last year of their contract: Canha, David Robertson, Tommy Pham, Adam Ottavino.
“Certainly the thoughts and the feelings creep in. We’re only human,” Canha said. “Just like any hardship you deal with. You control what you can control . . . We’re all of the attitude that hopefully we can turn this thing around.”
But as Cohen said, hope as is not a strategy.
“You never want to put yourself in this position, but here we are,” Verlander said. “Here we find ourselves.”
