New York Mets Fire Manager Carlos Mendoza, Replace with Andy Green
Quick Look
- The New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday after a disappointing 34-47 start to the season and a six-game losing streak, replacing him with Andy Green.
- Owner Steve Cohen expressed frustration with the team's performance despite having the second-highest payroll in baseball.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The New York Mets, with the second-highest payroll in baseball, have significantly underperformed this season, holding a 34-47 record and experiencing a six-game losing streak.
Carlos Mendoza was fired as manager of the underperforming New York Mets on Friday and replaced by Andy Green.
New York are 34-47 following a six-game losing streak, 15 games behind National League East-leading Atlanta and 9.5 games back of the NL’s last wild-card berth.
Mets owner Steve Cohen had high expectations for a team without a World Series title since 1986. New York have the second-highest payroll in baseball at $377m, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Our commitment to bringing our fans a championship-caliber team has not changed,” Cohen said in a statement. “There is no sugar-coating it: This season has been a disappointment and our fans deserve better than what we’ve delivered.”
Slowed by injuries to Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes and Jorge Polanco, the Mets traded pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday and could pivot to a sell-off and retooling for the future.
Mendoza spent 15 seasons working for the Yankees, the last four as bench coach, before the Mets hired him to replace Buck Showalter after the 2023 season. While New York advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2024, it failed to reach the playoffs last year and is among the sport’s biggest disappointments this season
Since starting last year 45-25, the Mets are 72-101. That left the team with a 206-199 record under Mendoza, who was in the final guaranteed season of a three-year contract. He was hired by the Mets a month after David Stearns joined New York as president of baseball operations.
After signing Juan Soto to a record $765m, 15-year contract before the 2025 season, Stearns made major roster changes last offseason. He allowed Pete Alonso to leave as a free agent and traded Brandon Nimmo, while bringing in Semien and Bo Bichette.
New York had a 12-game losing streak in April, their longest since 2002, and made six errors in the nightcap of Wednesday’s home doubleheader loss to the Chicago Cubs, their most in a game since 2014.
Boos echoed at Citi Field on Wednesday night. In the ninth inning, fans broke out in chants of “Pete Alonso”.
“Everybody is pissed, everybody is frustrated,” Mendoza said after the game. “Simple as that.”
“Carlos has led the organization with passion and grace and is beloved by everyone who works with him on a daily basis,” Stearns said in a statement. “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.”
Green, a former major league infielder, joined the Mets in 2023 as senior vice-president of baseball development. He managed San Diego to a 274-366 record from 2016 to 2019.
Open Questions
- How will Andy Green impact team performance?
- Will the Mets proceed with a sell-off?
- What will be the fan reaction to future changes?
