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Mets Fire Manager Carlos Mendoza After $330 Million Payroll Delivers Historic Collapse

The New York Mets dismissed manager Carlos Mendoza Friday, cutting ties with a skipper who guided the club to the National League Championship Series just one year ago but could not survive a season in which baseball's largest payroll — nearly $330 million — has produced one of the sport's most glaring organizational failures. The Mets stand 34-47 at the exact midway point of the schedule, on pace to finish with fewer than 70 wins for the first time since 2003.

By Corinne Ashford2 min read
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Key takeaways

  • The New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday despite the team carrying baseball's largest payroll at nearly $330 million.
  • The Mets stand 34-47 at the season's midpoint, on pace to finish with fewer than 70 wins for the first time since 2003.
  • The firing followed a four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs and a six-game losing streak in which the Mets were outscored 58-22.
  • Mendoza had led the Mets to the National League Championship Series just one year earlier.
  • Former San Diego Padres manager Andy Green, who had moved into the Mets' front office, will take over as interim manager.

The New York Mets dismissed manager Carlos Mendoza Friday, cutting ties with a skipper who guided the club to the National League Championship Series just one year ago but could not survive a season in which baseball's largest payroll — nearly $330 million — has produced one of the sport's most glaring organizational failures. The Mets stand 34-47 at the exact midway point of the schedule, on pace to finish with fewer than 70 wins for the first time since 2003.

The Breaking Point

A four-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs pushed a deteriorating situation past the threshold. The Mets have been outscored 58-22 over a six-game losing streak and sit 13 games under .500, their lowest mark of the season. The skid follows a 12-game losing streak in April that the team never recovered from, and since June 13 of last year the franchise has gone 72-102. The final indignity arrived Wednesday night, when the Mets committed six errors — one by each infielder — marking the first time that had occurred since the team's inaugural 1962 season.

President of Baseball Operations David Stearns acknowledged the decision was driven by a need for change rather than a failure of character. Stearns credited Mendoza with leading "with passion and grace" and called his cultural impact "transformative," while conceding the organization was "falling short." Owner Steve Cohen added that the season had been a disappointment and that fans deserved better.

A Roster Overhaul That Has Not Delivered

The roster Mendoza inherited this year was itself a product of aggressive offseason surgery. Stearns let first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz walk in free agency, traded outfielders Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, and brought in Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert, Bo Bichette, Devin Williams, and Luke Weaver. The results have been largely dismal. Polanco has not played since April 14, Robert since April 26, and Bichette is on pace for the worst full season of his career. Williams carries a 4.44 ERA. Weaver's 2.12 ERA stands as the lone bright spot in a rotation posting a 4.90 ERA, third-worst in the league.

The offense ranks second-worst in baseball with a .675 OPS. Defensively, despite Stearns explicitly prioritizing "run prevention" during the offseason, New York owns the third-most errors in the league.

Green Steps In as Interim

Former San Diego Padres manager Andy Green, who had moved into the Mets' front office, will take over as interim manager. Green inherits a clubhouse where fan frustration has already turned visible — during Wednesday's doubleheader loss, Citi Field crowds audibly chanted the name of departed free agent Pete Alonso.

The managerial change does not resolve the deeper organizational question: how a payroll without parallel in the sport has produced a team on track for a historically poor season. That answer will fall to Stearns, whose offseason blueprint is now under pointed scrutiny at the halfway mark.

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Frequently asked

Why were the Mets struggling despite such a high payroll?

Offseason acquisitions largely underperformed: Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert have been injured, Bo Bichette is on pace for his worst full season, and the rotation posted a 4.90 ERA while the offense ranked second-worst in baseball with a .675 OPS.

What was the final incident before Mendoza's firing?

On Wednesday night the Mets committed six errors — one by each infielder — the first time that had happened since the franchise's inaugural 1962 season.

Who made the decision and how was it explained?

President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said the move was driven by a need for change rather than a failure of character, praising Mendoza's 'transformative' cultural impact, while owner Steve Cohen called the season a disappointment.

How did fans react during the team's recent games?

During Wednesday's doubleheader loss, Citi Field crowds audibly chanted the name of departed free agent Pete Alonso.