Jason Burgos
It just seems like a Thanos-level inevitability that the New York Mets are going to fire manager Carlos Mendoza as they head into the start of their series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, tied for the worst record in MLB at 9-19.
Much of April was dominated by a 12-game losing skid, and when they broke the slump with back-to-back victories last week, they dropped three of four to one of the worst franchises of the last decade, the Colorado Rockies. It has been an ugly start to a season that can’t be blamed on a slew of major injuries. There is more than enough talent on one of the most expensive rosters in the game to be far better than this.
Add to the fact that the Mets had a historic collapse at the end of last season, and it just seems highly unlikely that Mendoza is still on the bench by mid-May. So, who can New York turn to in an attempt to save this season and be the first team in MLB history to make the playoffs despite a 12-game losing streak?
We look to answer that question with seven potential options to take over as Mets manager soon.
Kai Correa, Mets Bench Coach
The person most likely to replace Mendoza as manager of the Mets would be his new bench coach, Kai Correa. The 37-year-old has been viewed as a future manager in MLB circles for the last couple of years after stints as an assistant for the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Guardians.
Even in February, there was speculation that he was specifically hired as the backup plan if Mendoza’s struggles continued early this season. Of all the potential options, Correa will probably be the choice of team president David Stearns.
Alex Cora, Former Red Sox Manager
Late last week, the Boston Red Sox surprised many when they fired manager Alex Cora after eight seasons. While the team had a few losing seasons under his watch (including an 11-17 start this year), the 50-year-old had some very good years in Beantown, including a World Series win in 2018.
Furthermore, he remains one of the most respected managers in the game because he did the best he could with the talent he had. He was not the one who either traded or let stars like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and Alex Bregman walk. Or passed on spending big to improve the roster despite being in a major market.
While it would be tough to walk in and change things, of the options on the market, Cora has the respect around the game that would give him a great chance at it.
Joe Girardi, Former Phillies & Yankees manager
It is possible that Stearns feels Correa is not ready to be thrust into such a high-pressure situation, or owner Steve Cohen steps in to bring in a big name to serve as interim manager for the rest of the season. That is why former New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi could be an option.
Although he had a disappointing run in Philly, he still has a World Series title on his resume (2009 with the Yanks) and is well-versed in handling the New York media. Girardi is one of the few managers available who could jump into such a tough situation and probably succeed.
Carlos Beltran, Mets special assistant
In 2019, Mets legend Carlos Beltran was hired to be the team’s manager. However, his involvement with the Houston Astros‘ sign-stealing scandal cost him the job. Yet, he remains a part of the organization as a special assistant and has been linked to other managerial jobs over the last couple of years.
Beltran is a well-respected mind around the game, and his knowledge of the Mets organization at the moment is a benefit. Furthermore, he may be able to connect with the team’s Latin stars better than Mendoza has since he was once an elite star in MLB.
David Ross, Former Cubs manager
The managerial options for the Mets are slim, with the season having just started a few weeks ago. However, one intriguing veteran skipper that could be in play if the team fired Mendoza is former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross.
While he wasn’t amazing in Chi-Town, he was still rock solid, and the team posted an 83-79 record before he was replaced by Craig Counsell. If New York is interested in giving a former manager the rest of the season to prove they can do the job long-term, Ross is a sensible option.
Dick Scott, Mets Triple-A manager
Another short-term option with experience that could jump into the job on short notice is current Mets Triple-A manager Dick Scott. He has done solid work down in Syracuse, has been around the game for well over two decades, and previously served as the Mets’ bench coach in 2016 and 2017. So he knows the pressures of the market.
While he would not be a top choice, the Red Sox turned to their own Triple-A manager, Chad Tracy, to replace Cora last week.
Buck Showalter, Mets manager before Mendoza
Yes, Stearns ousted Buck Showalter after he first took over as president in 2024. But New York sports fans have seen managers or coaches fired and return in the same role or with the other NYC team before. Plus, desperate times call for desperate measures, and of the veteran coaches that could jump into such a messy situation and turn things around, Showalter can.
Let’s not forget that in 2022, he led the team to their first 100-plus win season since the 1980s. The biggest issue is that this is a team built to get to the World Series this fall, and over 22 years as a big league manager, that is something the soon-to-be 70-year-old has never achieved.
