Mets fire Carlos Mendoza at season midpoint, name Andy Green interim manager after 34-47 start

The dismissal

The New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, exactly halfway through a season that has seen the club post a 34-47 record and lose six straight games. Mendoza, 46, compiled a 206-199 mark over two-plus seasons at the helm. He led the Mets to the National League Championship Series in 2024 but missed the postseason last year after a second-half collapse.

“Carlos has led the organization with passion and grace and is beloved by everyone who works with him on a daily basis. Carlos' impact on our players, staff, and culture over the last three seasons has been transformative. Unfortunately, we know we are falling short and change is necessary to move forward.”

Owner Steve Cohen, whose franchise last won a World Series in 1986, acknowledged the shortfall directly.

“There is no sugar-coating it: This season has been a disappointment and our fans deserve better than what we've delivered.”

The numbers behind the move

The Mets entered Friday 15 games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and 9.5 games back of the final National League wild-card spot. The club carries one of baseball's largest payrolls: the Independent reports $358 million with an additional $124 million in luxury tax, while the Guardian pegs it at $377 million, second only to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Run prevention, the stated strategy heading into 2026, has been a disaster. Starting pitchers hold a collective 4.90 ERA, third-worst in MLB, and the team has committed the third-most errors in the league, including six in a single game on Wednesday.

Andy Green steps in

Andy Green, the Mets' senior vice president of baseball development, takes over as interim manager. Green, 48, previously managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019, compiling a 274-366 record. He joined the Mets in 2023 after four seasons as Chicago Cubs bench coach. President of baseball operations David Stearns said Green will return to the front office at season's end. Green's own history with the organization dates to 2009, when he was a veteran infielder for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate during a period of front-office turmoil.

Reaction from across town

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who had Mendoza as his bench coach from 2019 through 2023, spoke with his former colleague on Friday.

“Surprised, I guess, but not surprised. Obviously, it's a tough situation over there right now with what they've been through this year, and even going back to last year.”

Boone said Mendoza is "in a good place" and predicted he will manage again, calling him a great leader whose reputation has been solidified even through the dismissal.

The search ahead

The Mets are now looking for their fifth full-time manager since Terry Collins retired after the 2017 season. Early candidates include Carlos Beltrán, who was hired and then fired before spring training in 2020 due to the Astros' sign-stealing scandal and now works in the Mets' front office; Albert Pujols, who managed the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic; David Ross, who improved the Cubs' win total in each of his three full seasons; Alex Cora, recently parted from the Boston Red Sox; and Brandon Hyde, the 2023 American League Manager of the Year with Baltimore.