The New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday and replaced him with Andy Green after the team fell to 34-47, last in the National League East. The Mets have lost six straight games and sit 15 games behind division-leading Atlanta and 9.5 games back of the final wild-card spot.
Owner Steve Cohen voices disappointment
Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has the second-highest payroll in baseball at $377 million, issued a statement saying, “Our commitment to bringing our fans a championship-caliber team has not changed. There is no sugar-coating it: This season has been a disappointment and our fans deserve better than what we’ve delivered.” The Mets have not won a World Series since 1986.
Mendoza's tenure and struggles
Mendoza spent 15 seasons with the Yankees, the last four as bench coach, before being hired to replace Buck Showalter after the 2023 season. Under Mendoza, the Mets went 206-199, including a 2024 NL Championship Series appearance. However, since starting last year 45-25, the Mets are 72-101. This season, they endured a 12-game losing streak in April, their longest since 2002, and committed six errors in a doubleheader loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, their most in a game since 2014.
Injuries and roster moves
The Mets have been slowed by injuries to Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes, and Jorge Polanco. They traded pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday and may pivot to a sell-off and retooling for the future. President of baseball operations David Stearns signed Juan Soto to a record $765 million, 15-year contract before the 2025 season and made major roster changes, allowing Pete Alonso to leave as a free agent and trading Brandon Nimmo while bringing in Semien and Bo Bichette.
Fan frustration and Mendoza's reaction
Boos echoed at Citi Field on Wednesday night, and fans chanted “Pete Alonso” in the ninth inning. After the game, Mendoza said, “Everybody is pissed, everybody is frustrated. Simple as that.” Stearns praised Mendoza in a statement: “Carlos has led the organization with passion and grace and is beloved by everyone who works with him on a daily basis. Carlos’ impact on our players, staff, and culture over the last three seasons has been transformative. Unfortunately, we know we are falling short and change is necessary to move forward.”
Andy Green takes over
Green, a former major league infielder, joined the Mets in 2023 as senior vice-president of baseball development. He previously managed the San Diego Padres to a 274-366 record from 2016 to 2019. He will serve as interim manager for the remainder of the season.
