In a surprising turn of events, the New York Mets have confirmed that Carlos Mendoza will remain at the helm as their manager for the 2026 season. This announcement comes on the heels of a disappointing season that saw the team miss the playoffs, prompting fans to speculate about potential changes within the organization. However, the Mets' president of baseball operations has made it clear that a managerial change is not on the table, as reported by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.
Carlos Mendoza, who is 45 years old, has been leading the Mets for the past two seasons. As he enters his third year, it’s important to note that this will be the last guaranteed year of his contract, although the Mets do hold an option for the 2027 season. Under his leadership, the team achieved an impressive 89-73 record in 2024, making it to Game 6 of the National League Championship Series before being eliminated by the Dodgers. However, this year, the Mets finished with a record of 83-79, narrowly missing out on postseason play.
At first glance, an 83-79 record might not seem catastrophic. Yet, the context reveals a more troubling picture. The Mets made headlines during the offseason by signing superstar Juan Soto to a record-breaking free agent contract, which significantly increased their payroll to a staggering $340 million. At one point during the season, specifically on June 1, the Mets were tied with the Cubs for the best record in the National League at 37-22. Unfortunately, their performance took a nosedive after that, as they played at a dismal 46-57 pace for the remainder of the season, which is comparable to the output of a struggling 72-90 Angels team that finished last in the American League West.
The months of August and September were particularly harsh for the Mets. They managed to win only 21 out of their last 53 games, resulting in a win percentage of just .396. This was despite having one of the most potent offenses in Major League Baseball during that stretch. From August 1 until the end of the season, Mets hitters led the league in runs scored and ranked second in home runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Their collective offensive performance, indicated by a 126 wRC+, suggested that they were 26% more effective than the average MLB offense.
However, the Mets faced a significant challenge on the pitching front, both in their bullpen and starting rotation. Kodai Senga struggled to regain his form after a hamstring injury derailed what was shaping up to be a strong season. His performance dipped to the point where he agreed to be optioned to the minors in September. Veteran pitchers Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea also faced difficulties; both started the season on the injured list—Montas with a lat strain and Manaea with an oblique strain. Montas managed only a few poor starts before requiring UCL surgery upon his return. Additionally, Tylor Megill underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month, and Griffin Canning, who had shown promise, suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his season in June.
Instead of making a significant trade to bolster their roster at the deadline, the Mets opted to promote from within their farm system. Top prospect Nolan McLean made an immediate impact, pitching like an ace after his August call-up. However, the results from late-season call-ups Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat were mixed. Following the trade deadline, Mendoza’s rotation posted a troubling 5.65 ERA, ranking as the fourth-worst in the majors. The front office's efforts to strengthen the bullpen during the summer trade market fell short of expectations. While Tyler Rogers performed admirably, Ryan Helsley struggled significantly, and Gregory Soto was only serviceable.
In a results-oriented industry, it’s not uncommon for a manager to bear the brunt of a pitching collapse of this scale, even though Mendoza was not responsible for assembling the pitching staff. Nevertheless, he will have another opportunity to lead the team in 2026, although it appears that changes to his coaching staff may be on the horizon. According to SNY’s Andy Martino, there are indications that "widespread" changes could be forthcoming for the coaching staff, despite the organization’s decision to retain Mendoza.
What do you think about the Mets' decision to keep Mendoza as manager? Do you believe he deserves another chance, or should the team have pursued a different direction? Share your thoughts in the comments!
