On Friday, with their season in a slide, the New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza and handed the dugout to Andy Green. The move comes with the club sitting at 34-47 and riding a six-game losing streak, 15 games behind NL East leader Atlanta. It is another dramatic turn for a franchise carrying one of baseball’s highest payrolls and still chasing its first World Series title since 1986.
As reported by The Associated Press, owner Steve Cohen called the season "a disappointment" and said in a statement that "our commitment to bringing our fans a championship-caliber team has not changed." The AP noted that president of baseball operations David Stearns praised Mendoza’s role in shaping clubhouse culture, but acknowledged the team was falling short and that "change is necessary." The outlet also pointed out that the Mets opened the year with baseball’s highest payroll and were projected to pay a significant luxury-tax bill.
Andy Green Steps In
Andy Green, a former big-league infielder who joined the organization in 2023, will now run things from the top step while remaining a familiar presence in the front office. According to MLB.com, Green has served as the Mets’ senior vice president of baseball development since he was hired into the club’s front office. The Mets have leaned on internal options throughout this season, and Green had been viewed in-house as a potential managerial choice almost since the day he arrived.
What Mendoza Leaves Behind
Mendoza was hired after the 2023 season and finished with a 206-199 record as Mets manager while guiding New York to the 2024 National League Championship Series, according to The Associated Press. The AP also notes that Green’s prior big-league managerial stint came with the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019, a tenure that produced a 274-366 record. The change follows a slump that has pushed the Mets well out of the NL wild-card picture and sparked an ownership-driven push for a reset at the major-league level.
What’s Next
The organization did not immediately say whether Green’s new role is interim or permanent, and no timetable was given for any further staff changes. Local outlet News 12 Bronx carried the AP dispatch and highlighted the timing of the move as the Mets prepare for their upcoming homestand. Fans and analysts will be tracking Green’s early lineup cards and pitching decisions to see whether he can stop the slide and steady a season that has fallen well short of expectations.
