Carlos Mendoza isn’t considered part of the problem as Mets brass contemplates the future.
Despite an epic team meltdown that concluded with Sunday’s loss to the Marlins — keeping the Mets from reaching the playoffs — Mendoza will return as manager in 2026, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns.
“I believe Carlos has all the same traits and assets that we believed in when we hired him two years ago,” Stearns said Monday at Citi Field.
Mendoza led the Mets to an 83-79 record that tied the team with the Reds for the NL’s third and final wild-card berth.
The Reds received the postseason berth based on winning the season series against the Mets.
The Mets went into a free fall over the final 2 ½ months of the regular season, with a 38-55 record, that left in question whether Mendoza would be retained to start the final year of his contract.
Carlos Mendoza reacts during the Mets’ loss to the Marlins on Sept. 28, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“We had a tough year this year and there’s no question we are all disappointed,” Stearns said. “We’re all disappointed — Mendy as much as or more than anyone else — but I still believe he’s a very good manager. I think he is going to demonstrate that.”
Mendoza’s three predecessors who actually managed games for the team — Buck Showalter, Luis Rojas and Mickey Callaway — were all fired after two seasons on the job. Carlos Beltran was fired before he could manage his first game because of his role in the Astros sign-stealing scheme.
Mets owner Steve Cohen (c.) along with GM David Stearns (r.) speak with Chris Christie (l.) before the Mets-Marlins game on Sept. 26, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Stearns said evaluations on the coaching staff will occur this week. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes could be most at risk, with bench coach John Gibbons as another possibility to be replaced.
Mendoza finished second in the NL Manager of the Year voting last season after leading the Mets to the playoffs.
But this season he was challenged to find the right answers for a team that fell woefully short of expectations.
“Not only we fell short, we didn’t even get into October,” Mendoza said Sunday. “This is a team that is not only built to get into October, but to play deep into October.”
On another front, the Mets have not filled the general manager’s position in Stearns’ two seasons leading the front office. Stearns was asked if that could change this offseason.
“We always remain open, should the perfect candidate come about,” Stearns said. “But it’s not something we’re going to go out and do a robust search process for.”