Lincoln Zdunich
The beginning of the MLB season is the most treacherous time for managers. If teams underperform early, it can signal a need for change (though there may not really be one in the first place). Often it seems better to weather the storm and wait for sunny days. That can be difficult for front offices to do when they feel the pressure of a fanbase hurting for a win.
In the last week, that’s been the case for two of MLB’s most respected managers. Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox and Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies were let go this week as part of a restructuring for both teams. The Sox (12-17) and the Phillies (10-19) have been off to a miserable start to the 2026 season.
The front offices of each decided a change needed to be made, and so they did. Chad Tracy, the former manager of Triple-A Worcester, stepped in as the interim manager for Boston and former bench coach Don Mattingly did so for Philly. Each has been off to a good start, though whether that’s actually due to their presence remains iffy.
But the recent firings stir the pot for other clubs even more. Struggling teams may see that other clubs have let go of their managers and do likewise in order to attempt to improve. It’s often the case that a slow start isn’t due to the manager, but a team needs someone to blame in the face of poor play. That often leads to the skipper’s dismissal.
When asking the question of which manager’s might be next to get canned, it’s hard to say with certainty. The truth is that it’s impossible to tell if a front office will wait it out or not. That being said, these two look particularly close to being let go.
Joe Espada, Houston Astros
I know, not the name you expected to see. But it’s been rough going for Houston. Despite having probably the best offense in the league, the Astros are off to an abysmal start. The club is last place in the American League West with an 11-19 record.
That’s been, in large part, due to a slew of injuries that have bankrupted the roster. Houston has 15 players on the injured list, including the likes of Jeremy Peña, Joey Loperfido, Jake Meyers, Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Josh Hader and Nate Pearson. Those are big contributors to the team that have been totally missing.
Is that Espada’s fault? No, it’s not. There’s nothing a team can do to prepare for the myriad of injuries that come with a season. That’s just part of the game of baseball. But Espada’s faults are found in the management of the team once it’s healthy, not in its injury proneness.
Espada has shown a lack of good decision-making during critical in-game situations. His bullpen management has been downright horrific, giving up games in high-leverage moments. And, to top it off, his lineup construction has never been particularly solid.
Espada has never quite proved himself to be able to guide Houston well. Outside of a talented roster doing what it would do if it had just about anybody coaching them, Espada has yet to find true success as a manager. And that has truly hurt his case for staying with the Astros if they don’t improve on their season.
Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets
Here’s the big one. Mendoza had been under increased speculation after Cora’s firing, and even more now after Thomson’s. The Mets have had an historically awful start to 2026, ending up in last place of the National League East after a 12-game losing streak.
That dismal streak finally came to an end last week, but the club was immediately swept by the Colorado Rockies afterwards. New York fans are already thinking of other options to manage the star-studded team.
But the problem started last year with the historic collapse of the ’25 Mets. After possessing the best record in baseball halfway through the season, New York missed the postseason in a tiebreaker with the Cincinnati Reds. Missing the postseason led the front office to be aggressive in reconstructing the roster this offseason, adding the likes of Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien.
In spite of that, New York has struggled to their last place finish. And no part of the club is looking good. The offense has struggled under injuries to their stars, the pitching (aside from rookie ace Nolan McLean) is floundering and the bullpen has given away games every other night.
It’s unclear what’s needed to right the ship, and it seems like Mendoza’s job is safe for now. The front office has seemed more favorable towards riding it out than immediately firing the skipper. But that doesn’t mean he’s totally safe. If the Mets can’t turn it around — and soon — Mendoza will be looking for a job soon.
