The Mets are hiring former Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their new manager, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network and Joel Sherman of the New York Post were the first to report the news. The Mets’ new president of baseball operations David Stearns brings in Mendoza, who spent 15 years with “The Pinstripes” including the last four seasons as the Yankees bench coach.
Mendoza replaces former Mets manager Buck Showalter, who was fired in October after the franchise’s season finale against the Phillies. The Mets begin the 2023 season with World Series aspirations. However, the franchise finished 75–87 this season after registering 101 victories and a Wild Card appearance in ’22 and Showalter claiming his fourth Manager of the Year award.
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Although Mendoza lacks managerial experience at the top level, he previously served as a manager in the minor leagues in 2011 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees and the Charleston RiverDogs during the 2012 season. After the ’12 campaign, Mendoza became a roving defensive coach for the Yankees before joining the major league ranks in ’18.
Mendoza previously interviewed for managerial positions with the Tigers, Red Sox, and White Sox. The 43-year-old will seek to restore balance and winning culture in Queens with a bevy of talent returning in shortstop Francisco Lindor, center fielder Brandon Nimmo, first baseman Pete Alonso, and pitchers Edwin Diaz and Kodai Senga.
