Jason Burgos
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and his New York Mets counterpart Carlos Mendoza are on the hot seat heading into the 2026 MLB season, and a big-name manager for one of the remaining World Baseball Classic teams is emerging as a potential replacement for either man next year.
Boone and Mendoza have a lot of pressure on them ahead of the new MLB season. It is a natural hazard of being the skipper for one of the New York baseball teams. However, there are reasons for both men to be worried about their positions.
Although Boone is 200 games over .500 during his eight seasons as the manager of the NY Yankees, the standard is always sky high in the Bronx. They are aiming for championships every year, and while Boone has been to the playoffs in all but one season for the pinstripes, he has yet to bring the club its 28th title.
When it comes to Mendoza, he looked like the long-term answer on the bench when he guided the NY Mets to a magical run to the NLCS in 2024. However, last season, despite adding Juan Soto to the roster, he oversaw an epic late-season collapse. After his entire staff was changed in the offseason, the 46-year-old must make the playoffs, or he will be looking for a new job in the fall.
Albert Pujols’ rise into a MLB manager candidate
Well, an intriguing option continues to gather a lot of steam, and his name is Albert Pujols. Over the last couple of years, the three-time NL MVP’s profile as a coach has grown after serving as a special assistant with the Los Angeles Angels. It is why he was linked to the managerial openings for the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and in LA this offseason.
While he did not get an MLB managerial job, he is getting his feet wet in the role this month as the skipper of the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team. Heading into their quarterfinal game on Friday, they are 4-0 in the tournament and have looked impressive. The St. Louis Cardinals legend’s handling of a roster filled with a bunch of stars and big personalities has impressed many.
One of them is Team DR first base coach Julio Borbón, who raved about Pujols’ managerial skills during a conversation with the Foul Territory Show this week.
Albert Pujols impresses as manager of star-studded Dominican Republic team
“His resume speaks for itself. The way he commands a room, the way he interacts with players, as a group and individually, has been very eye-opening,” Borbon said. “… As far as things he needs to work on, it’s to continue to get experience. It’s one thing to have played [and then managing]. With things he’s done, having won in DR, being able to understand the things going on in the game, he’s getting everything checked off as far as those things.
“… I think he’s as prepared as anybody. One thing that surprised me is that he wants a back-and-forth. It’s not just a one-way highway. He wants input and to make sure any ideas are brought forth and that we are open,” he added. “I think he’s as ready as anyone can be based on what he’s accomplished so far.”
The 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion is one of the greatest players of his era, and most experts pick him as the greatest first baseman to ever play the game. He has a deep knowledge of the sport, but also gained a new understanding of how things work in the front office during his time with the Angels.
However, his stint as the skipper of the Dominican Republic is especially important if he were a candidate for the NY Yankees or NY Mets jobs in the fall. The team is jam-packed with elite and colorful stars. Being able to manage that group successfully says a lot about how he could handle star-studded rosters in New York. Plus, he is familiar with winning under the pressurized spotlight of October baseball.
If the NY Yankees or NY Mets are looking for a new manager in November, don’t be surprised if Albert Pujols is a top candidate.
