The New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday after the team stumbled to a 34-47 record, including a six-game losing streak, and replaced him with Andy Green, the team announced.
Mets' Disappointing Season and Owner's Reaction
New York sits in last place in the National League East, 15 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves and 9.5 games out of the final wild-card spot. The Mets have the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball at $377 million, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Our commitment to bringing our fans a championship-caliber team has not changed," owner Steve 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."
Injuries and Roster Moves
The Mets have been hampered by injuries to key players including Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., Clay Holmes, and Jorge Polanco. On Thursday, the team traded pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs, signaling a potential sell-off and retooling for the future.
Mendoza's Tenure and Record
Mendoza, who spent 15 seasons with the New York Yankees and served as their bench coach for four years, was hired to replace Buck Showalter after the 2023 season. The Mets advanced to the National League Championship Series in 2024 but failed to make the playoffs last year. Since starting the 2024 season 45-25, the Mets have gone 72-101. Overall, Mendoza posted a 206-199 record and was in the final guaranteed year of his three-year contract.
"Carlos has led the organization with passion and grace and is beloved by everyone who works with him on a daily basis," president of baseball operations David 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."
Offseason Moves and On-Field Struggles
After signing Juan Soto to a record $765 million, 15-year contract before the 2025 season, Stearns made major roster changes, allowing Pete Alonso to leave as a free agent and trading Brandon Nimmo while bringing in Semien and Bo Bichette. The Mets endured a 12-game losing streak in April, their longest since 2002, and committed six errors in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader loss to the Chicago Cubs, the most in a game since 2014.
Frustrated fans booed at Citi Field on Wednesday night and chanted "Pete Alonso" in the ninth inning. "Everybody is pissed, everybody is frustrated," Mendoza said after the game.
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 from 2016 to 2019, posting a 274-366 record.
