The New York Mets will have Carlos Mendoza return as their manager for the 2026 season. President of baseball operations David Stearns announced this decision on Monday, citing Mendoza’s past performance and his ability to demonstrate similar traits to those he had when hired two years ago.
Mendoza led the Mets to the National League Championship Series last year but struggled this season, finishing with a 4-0 loss to the Miami Marlins that would have sent them to the playoffs if they had won. The team’s poor performance was attributed to various issues, including inadequate bolstering of the pitching staff when injuries surfaced, poor team defense, and an offense that failed to supply consistent run production.
The Mets’ starting pitching was a major issue, with many key starters missing significant time due to injury or underperforming. This forced the team to rely heavily on its bullpen, which ultimately led to fatigue and a lack of depth in the rotation.
Despite this, Stearns remained optimistic about Mendoza’s abilities, stating that he believes the manager has “all the same traits and assets” as when he was hired two years ago. The team will evaluate its coaching staff within the next week before making further decisions.
The Mets’ 2026 season is likely to be shaped by the emergence of their young prospects, including right-handers Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat. While adding a top-tier starting pitcher may not be feasible, Stearns emphasized the importance of supporting the development of these young pitchers in order to achieve sustained success.
Overall, Mendoza’s return as manager provides a sense of continuity for the team, but also raises questions about how he will address the issues that led to their disappointing season.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46425722/carlos-mendoza-return-third-season-manager-mets