The New York Mets have been one of the biggest disappointments this season. They have a record of 34-47, good for dead last in the NL East. They are 15 games out of first place and nine and a half back of the last wild card spot. This is nowhere near the expectations heading into the season. This poor play has made the fanbase call for everyone to get fired. They finally got their wish as the team announced it was firing manager Carlos Mendoza. Andy Green will take over as the interim manager.
This move came on the heels of an embarrassing four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs. During that series, the Mets gave up 33 runs and committed six errors in one game. It is considered by many to be rock bottom of the 2026 season. This series perfectly described how the season has gone. Couple this with the collapse the Mets saw last season, and you understand why Mendoza was relieved of his duty. But was this the right move for the Mets, and how will it impact them the rest of the season?
Will the Mets Improve Without Carlos Mendoza?
Was Mendoza the main reason why the Mets have struggled this season? No. The blame falls on the players for not living up to expectations and on David Stearns’ poor roster construction. But he was not doing anything to improve things. He wasn’t holding guys accountable and just did not have a feel for how to run the team. This created a locker room that just did not care. It felt like they did not respect him and stopped listening to him. This resulted in the team getting even worse.
The main reason the Mets brought Mendoza in was to be a “players’ manager”. Someone the locker room was going to rally around and who would be a calming voice when the team struggles. Sure, he was never going to be a genius when it comes to in-game decision-making. But if he could keep the team together and keep the focus through the highs and lows of an MLB season, he’d be fine. So, the fact that Mendoza lost the locker room is the biggest reason he had to go.
The issue is that this move was done too late. Mendoza should have been fired back in April during the Mets’ 12-game losing streak. Although things looked bad at that point, there was still enough time to turn the season around. It is not a guarantee, but if Mendoza was fired, then it may have sparked something in this team and propelled them on a run. It happened with the Philadelphia Phillies. They were in the same position as the Mets, but they fired their manager and have been red-hot ever since.
They waited too long, and now the Mets are buried with no shot at climbing out of it. The rest of the season should focus on player evaluation. They need to figure out who will be the complementary piece to Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor to compete in 2027. They should be giving young players like Carson Benge and AJ Ewing every day playing time, even when guys like Luis Robert Jr return from injury. They should also call up prospects like Ryan Clifford and Jack Wenninger to see if they’re ready to make an impact next season.
Although firing Mendoza is a step in the right direction, it will not save the season for the Mets. The focus of Stearns and the front office should be on identifying who can be the main contributors for 2027.
