New York Mets’ Carlos Mendoza gets rough fired label put on him entering new year
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New York Mets’ Carlos Mendoza gets rough fired label put on him entering new year originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Carlos Mendoza enters the 2026 season facing more pressure than perhaps any other manager in baseball. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, there’s no more honeymoon phase for him and the New York Mets.
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The Mets’ second-half collapse last year was something that can’t happen. Missing the playoffs with this roster and payroll can’t happen. For a team with World Series hopes, a lot has to change.
Mendoza’s contract situation is also an interesting talking point, as he only has an option for 2027, so there’s no long-term security in place. With the additions David Stearns and Steve Cohen made this winter, they put him in a position to win his job.
Dayn Perry of CBS Sports understands that, but brought up the contract situation and how bad the Mets were by going under .500 from Aug. 1 to the end of the campaign.
“Mendoza is probably the manager most at risk going into the 2026 season. His contract includes an option for 2027, which means it's not guaranteed beyond the upcoming season. Most essentially, Mendoza and Mets are coming off a deeply disappointing 2025 campaign in which they finished just four games above .500 and went 21-32 from Aug. 1 onward to tumble out of playoff position.
“Speculation about Mendoza's status -- and even the status of lead exec David Stearns -- ensued. Mendoza survived that collapse, but he's very much on notice at the outset in 2026. The hiring of Kai Correa, who briefly served as Giants interim manager in 2023, as the new bench coach means a ready-made replacement is already on staff. All signs point to "danger" for Mendoza,” he wrote.
Mendoza has to ensure that his guys are ready to go. There were reports that the Mets locker room had some issues, so he’ll need to figure that out.
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