ROSTER SHOCKER: Losing Antoan Richardson Could Mean Two Major Things for the Mets—Fans Buzzing About the “Devastating” Fallout and Braves’ Gain.vc
In a move that has sent a shockwave through the Mets fanbase, the organization has lost one of its most valuable coaches, Antoan Richardson, to their biggest division rival. The fallout could be devastating for two major reasons.
NEW YORK — The New York Mets’ offseason is already facing a “buzzsaw,” and it’s not over a player. In a “devastating” blow to the organization, first-base and baserunning coach Antoan Richardson has been hired away by the Atlanta Braves.
The move is a stunning “double blow” for the Mets, who just days ago also saw their popular pitching coach, Jeremy Hefner, poached by the same Atlanta staff.
While the loss of a first-base coach rarely makes headlines, “fans are buzzing” because Richardson was not just any coach. His departure signifies two major—and deeply troubling—things for the Mets’ future.
1. The Tactical Loss: The “Architect” is Gone
The first major fallout is the immediate, on-field tactical loss. In a dismal 2025 season, the Mets’ “stolen base renaissance” was one of their few bright spots, and Richardson was its “architect.”
- He was credited with transforming Juan Soto into an elite base-stealer, helping him swipe a career-high 38 bases (triple his previous high).
- Under Richardson’s guidance, the Mets as a team stole 147 bases (5th in MLB) and were caught just 18 times (2nd-best in MLB).
- He helped the team set a franchise record with 39 consecutive stolen bases without being caught.
Losing him isn’t just losing a first-base coach; the Mets have lost a core part of their offensive philosophy
Making matters worse, the Braves hired him to fix their biggest weakness. Atlanta finished 2025 in the bottom five in team stolen bases. Richardson is now a “weapon” who will be tasked with “unlocking” the potential of an already athletic lineup featuring Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and a healthy Ronald Acuña Jr.
2. The Cultural Loss: A “Fumbled” Negotiation
The second, and perhaps more “shocking” fallout, is how Richardson was lost.
Richardson was one of the only coaches to survive the Mets’ initial staff purge at the end of the season. President David Stearns reportedly “made a strong effort to keep him” and “very much wanted him back,” recognizing him as a “great human being” and a beloved, high-energy leader in the clubhouse.
But according to multiple reports, the deal fell apart over money.
Richardson stated that the two sides “differed on the salary part of it” and “weren’t fully aligned on how we viewed my value.”
For the richest team in baseball to “fumble” negotiations and lose a “well-beloved” and strategically vital coach to a division rival over salary is the “terrible look” that has fans buzzing. The Braves didn’t just get better; they made the Mets demonstrably worse by exploiting a baffling front-office failure in Queens.
