Manager Buck Showalter told reporters Sunday that he is not returning to manage the New York Mets next season.
Showalter announced the decision prior to the Mets’ regular-season finale against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. He will manage the game for New York, which entered Sunday’s contest with a 74-86 record to reside in fourth place in the National League East.
Mets owner Steve Cohen confirmed that the team is “heading in a new direction” shortly after Showalter’s announcement.
“We let Buck know we’ll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately,” Cohen said. “Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our team, including leading us to a 101-win season and postseason berth last year. The commitment and heart that Buck brings to the game will be felt by our organization for years to come. We wish Buck all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
The Mets are prepared to introduce new president of baseball operations David Stearns on Monday.
Showalter was named the 2022 Manager of the Year, becoming the first man to win the honor four times with four different teams (New York Yankees in 1994, Texas Rangers in 2004, Baltimore Orioles in 2014). He joined Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa as the only four-time winners of the award in history.
Showalter, 67, posted a 175-147 record in his two seasons with the Mets.
“I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team. I’m proud of what the Mets did,” Showalter said. “We won close to 180 games in two years. Especially last year, as much fun as I’ve ever had in the game. It reminded me of why I always loved this kind of work.”
Showalter owns a 1,726-1,664 record in his managerial career with the Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles and Mets.
–Field Level Media