ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Mets’ last in-season managerial change occurred in this city 18 years ago, but the franchise isn’t ready to repeat that history here or anywhere in the near term.
According to a source, president of baseball operations David Stearns has told Carlos Mendoza that his job is safe.
It confirmed an MLB.com report on Friday stating that Stearns and team owner Steve Cohen did not blame Mendoza for the Mets’ dismal start.
“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns told the outlet. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.”
The Mets began the day with MLB’s worst record at 10-21.
This included a stretch entering play in which the team lost 15 of 18 games.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change against the Washington Nationals. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Only the 1981 and ’64 Mets were worse through the first 31 games.
Mendoza survived an upheaval last offseason, when most of his coaching staff was replaced.
The Mets fell a victory short of the postseason in 2025, completing a second-half freefall after the team had raced to MLB’s best record in mid-June.
He’s in the final season of a three-year contract that includes a club option for 2027.
David Stearns isn’t making a managerial change yet. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Two managers have already been fired this season after teams with high expectations struggled.
The Red Sox dismissed Alex Cora last weekend and days later the Phillies dumped Rob Thomson.
This Mets team, with a $380 million payroll, has been particularly brutal offensively following a winter purge that saw Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil depart either through free agency or trades.
Their replacements have underwhelmed and been slowed physically.
Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. are on the injured list, joining Francisco Lindor in that capacity.
Juan Soto spent 2 ½ weeks on the IL with a calf strain during a stretch when the Mets lost 12 straight games.
Polanco, Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien have all underperformed at the plate, along with returning players such as Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez.
But on the last homestand the Mets were also hit with pitching breakdowns.
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Luke Weaver surrendered a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Nationals, a day after David Peterson got roughed up in his latest ugly performance.
Unreliable Sean Manaea is buried in the bullpen and Kodai Senga was placed on the IL this week with a lower-back ailment.
“It’s hard for all of us,” Mendoza said following Thursday’s loss. “We’re in this together, it’s not easy, but we have got to keep going.”
Willie Randolph was fired in 2008 following a game in Anaheim and replaced by Jerry Manuel.
The Mets have not had a managerial change since then in-season.