We finally received some much-needed clarity on the job status of another major league skipper. New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza will remain at the helm for the foreseeable future, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said on Friday morning.
Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza Will Remain for the Foreseeable Future
“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.” The Mets entered Friday with one of the worst records in franchise history. The 2026 Mets (10-21) only trailed behind the 1981 Mets (8-22-1) and the 1964 Mets (9-22).
Despite owner Steve Cohen and Stearns watching two other teams, the Boston Red Sox and rival Philadelphia Phillies, fire their managers in Alex Cora and Rob Thomson, the Mets remain confident in Mendoza to turn this disastrous start around. Stearns spoke to Mendoza on the phone on Friday morning and delivered the news assuring him of his job. “I understand the situation,” Mendoza said later that afternoon at Angel Stadium before the Mets kick-started a nine-game West Coast trip. “We all understand the situation. It’s good to have that conversation with [Stearns], but at the end of the day, we have a job and we have a responsibility.”
Carlos Mendoza is going to remain the Mets’ manager, per @AnthonyDiComo
“In the eyes of team decision-makers, the blame should be spread throughout the organization, from baseball operations to the clubhouse…
Club officials do not place the responsibility for that on… pic.twitter.com/Flg2zi6f0x
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 1, 2026
What This Means for New York Going Forward
This had been a nagging question that loomed over everyone involved with the Mets. For the last several weeks leading up to this point, Mendoza had been asked multiple times by reporters about his job status. He had been asked multiple times about whether or not he’s had any discussions or reassurances from Stearns or Cohen. It mentally took a toll on him, and he felt the growing pressure with every loss.
These types of things serve as distractions, exactly the type of things teams always talk about limiting. Mendoza isn’t the only one affected. Heavy speculation had spread throughout the whole team, including the clubhouse.
“I spoke with a few players today. Everybody in that room understands that just an endorsement of the manager isn’t going to be the thing that’s [going to put this team] over the top,” SNY’s Steve Gelbs said. “But as one player put it, it was the ‘elephant in the room.'”
It isn’t just the front office that is backing the third-year manager, the players are too. Star sluggers Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, among others, have publicly shown support for Mendoza. The two pushed back on the idea of needing a new voice in the locker room and instead put the blame on themselves as a team.
Now, with support from both the players and the front office, Mendoza is tasked with turning a Mets team around that sits in last place in almost every important offensive category.
On a day where the Mets publicly support Mendoza, the team responded with a badly-needed win in Anaheim, taking down the Angels 4-3.
They received four scoreless innings from the bullpen, including a save from Devin Williams. Marcus Semien tied the game with a two-run single, and Ronny Mauricio followed with a lead-taking and would-be game-winning 421-foot home run that came off his bat at a scorching 111 mph.
Slam the door, Airbender 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/LiHjOvFD7e
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 2, 2026
The Last Word
The calendar turned to May, and the Mets got off to a great start. One bad month doesn’t determine how they will finish in September. 2024 (under Mendoza) is a great example. That team started the year off with an abysmal 24-35 record. Everyone had written the Mets off long ago by then. Then came September/October, and the Mets had made the Wild Card round with an 89-73 record. They had gone 65-38 the rest of the season.
New York is banking on Mendoza to do it again in 2026, but if things continue to spiral, the front office could revisit the idea of firing him in the summer. As of right now, however, Mendoza won’t be asked the type of questions that he’s been bombarded with.
Mendoza, 46, is in the final guaranteed year of his three-year contract. The Mets hold a club option on the manager for the 2027 season. He owns a 183-173 lifetime record over parts of three seasons as manager.
“Since Day 1, since I’ve been in this job, I feel the support from Steve and Alex [Cohen] and David,” Mendoza said. “Like, I love working for them. We have a really good working relationship here. But it’s about the results on the field as well. Steve is not happy. Alex is not happy. David is not happy. And I’m not happy. All of us are frustrated. Together, we’ve got to find a way to get these guys out of this funk.
“Me and my family understand what comes with this job. From the very beginning, I’m grateful for the support that I have from my family. But look, man, we understand it’s a business. We’ve just got to continue to show up, and I’ve got to do my job, and that’s to get the best out of these guys.”
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
