{"id":124918,"date":"2026-07-01T18:07:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T22:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=124918"},"modified":"2026-07-01T18:07:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T22:07:30","slug":"alex-cora-mets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/07\/01\/alex-cora-mets\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Cora to Mets? His Latest Comments Raise Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the wake of the New York Mets <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/06\/29\/carlos-mendoza-downfall\/\" target=\"_self\">firing Carlos Mendoza<\/a>, the club appointed senior vice president for player development <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/greenan01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andy Green<\/a> as interim manager for the remainder of the 2026 season. During his press conference just hours after Mendoza\u2019s departure, president of baseball operations David Stearns said Green will return to the Mets\u2019 front office after the season, meaning New York will conduct a full-scale managerial search this offseason.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since Terry Collins retired following the 2017 season, the Mets have hired four full-time managers. There\u2019s been a noticeable trend in those hires.<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/callami01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Mickey Callaway<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/rojaslu99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luis Rojas<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/mendoca99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mendoza<\/a> were all first-time managers when they were hired. Buck Showalter, who took over ahead of the 2022 season, was the lone exception. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, it\u2019s fair to wonder: will the Mets once again turn to a first-time manager?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After years of inconsistency since their 2015 World Series appearance, however, Steve Cohen and Stearns may decide it\u2019s time to bring in someone with a proven track record. Former Boston Red Sox manager <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/coraal01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Cora<\/a> fits that description almost perfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBKuZJxHLS\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 5774px; aspect-ratio: 5774\/3850;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h2>Cora&#8217;s Comments on Mets Raises Questions<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, Cora appeared on the Trabuqueando podcast and praised the Mets, calling them \u201ca solid organization.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The owner is a big dog. The POBO is intelligent and they&#8217;ve spent the money. It hasn&#8217;t worked out yet, so they&#8217;re getting killed for it, but how many other teams are in the exact same situation right now?&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Alex Cora sat down with Francisco Arzola from Trabuqueando podcast and had this to say about the Mets:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re a solid organization. The owner is a big dog, the POBO is intelligent, and they\u2019ve spent the money. It hasn\u2019t worked out yet, so they\u2019re getting killed for it, but how\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5UiOpXQD7k\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/5UiOpXQD7k<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Master Flip \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf4 (@Masterflip_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Masterflip_\/status\/2072079773598441650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cora has given no indication he wants to manage the Mets. Still, if Stearns decides experience is the priority after hiring first-time manager Mendoza, the former Red Sox skipper would be a logical fit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Cora&#8217;s Resume<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cora has built one of the strongest managerial r\u00e9sum\u00e9s in baseball, leading the Sox to a World Series championship in 2018 while earning a reputation for his clubhouse leadership and ability to connect with players. Those qualities could appeal to Stearns as he searches for a manager capable of stabilizing a franchise that has struggled to find consistency.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_81107\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-81107\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Could Alex Cora be the next manager of the New York Mets?\" width=\"610\" height=\"407\" class=\"wp-image-81107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/USATSI_23809983_168403884_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-81107\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jul 23, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) celebrates a two-run home run scored by outfielder Tyler O&#8217;Neill (17) (not pictured) in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a veteran manager, Cora would immediately command respect in the clubhouse. For a Mets team that has dealt with <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/10\/jeff-mcneil-gets-candid-on-mets-trade-before-citi-field-return\/\" target=\"_self\">multiple clubhouse altercations<\/a> in recent seasons, an experienced voice could help establish stability. With the roster growing younger and a promising core beginning to emerge, hiring a proven leader may become one of Stearns\u2019 top priorities this winter.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Cora Will Have Suitors<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the Mets are unlikely to be the only team interested in Cora\u2019s services. If he decides to return to managing, New York is expected to face stiff competition \u2014 including from one of its biggest rivals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/25\/red-sox-announce-coaching-changes-cora-among-the-fired\/\" target=\"_self\">Red Sox fired Cora in late April<\/a> \u2014 along with several members of the coaching staff \u2014 the Philadelphia Phillies, who had also <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/28\/phillies-fire-manager-rob-thomson\/\" target=\"_self\">dismissed manager Rob Thomson<\/a>, offered Cora the opportunity to become their next manager. The one-time World Series champion declined the offer to spend more time with his family. Philadelphia instead promoted bench coach Don Mattingly to interim manager.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether the Phillies retain Mattingly beyond this season remains to be seen, but the expectation around the industry is that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will pursue Cora this offseason. The two worked together in Boston from 2017-19, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2018\/11\/20\/boston-red-sox-2018-season-recap\/\" target=\"_self\">winning the 2018 World Series<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The person who will lead the Mets\u2019 upcoming managerial search will be Stearns, as Cohen confirmed Wednesday on <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/steve-cohen-on-mets-terrible-season-david-stearns-firing\/id1623601003?i=1000775042733\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Show<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> podcast that he intends to let the president of baseball operations see out his full five-year contract.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;We&#8217;re going to do a proper search at the end of the year,&#8221; Cohen said on the team&#8217;s future managerial plans. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think there will be a shortage of people who will want this job. We&#8217;re going to try and make the best choice that we can.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan- Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the wake of the New York Mets firing Carlos Mendoza, the club appointed senior vice president for player development Andy Green as interim manager for the remainder of the 2026 season. During his press conference just hours after Mendoza\u2019s departure, president of baseball operations David Stearns said Green will return to the Mets\u2019 front [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5706,"featured_media":84130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1071,22,35],"tags":[1734,1160,4071],"class_list":["post-124918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","category-mets","category-news","tag-alex-cora","tag-david-stearns","tag-steve-cohen"],"modified_by":"Andrew Willis","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5706"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124918"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124981,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124918\/revisions\/124981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}