Mets' Top Manager Targets as Carlos Mendoza's Replacement Amid MLB Rumors
Carlos Mendoza made it through a tough first month of the 2026 MLB season but was eventually made to pay for the New York Mets' ongoing malaise.
The team announced Friday it fired Mendoza, with Andy Green taking over as the interim manager.
The remainder of the year could effectively serve as an audition for Green, who managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019.
Regardless of how they fare in the second half, the Mets are bound to consider all of their options when they launch a full search for a permanent replacement. These three could be on their radar when the time comes.
Andy Green
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The Philadelphia Phillies removed the interim tag from Rob Thomson when he guided them to the World Series in 2021, and the same thing could happen to his successor. The team is 36-17 since appointing Don Mattingly.
This past offseason, the Colorado Rockies concluded they saw enough in Warren Schaeffer to have him continue in the role after he took over for Bud Black.
A midseason promotion can sometimes be advantageous.
The phrase "new manager bounce" is mostly applied in soccer contexts but can work for any sport. Underperforming stars return to their usual level eventually, and the new coach can be credited for that improvement whether they had a role in it or not.
In the case of the Mets, you have a lot of notable veterans who aren't delivering.
Francisco Lindor is slugging .337 while being limited to 25 appearances. Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta and closer Devin Williams have ERAs north of 4.00. Bo Bichette's OPS+ has fallen from 127 in 2025 to 91.
Even if the Mets miss the playoffs, some momentum behind Green could build in the event their big names begin to hit expectations.
Alex Cora
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Alex Cora will be the most obvious outside name for New York to include on its wish list.
The Boston Red Sox had a .534 winning percentage during Cora's eight years in the dugout and won a World Series title in 2018.
That championship win could be giving a false impression of Cora's managerial acumen. He failed to have another 100-win season after that in Boston, and the Red Sox were .500 or worse for three straight years between 2022-24.
But the Sox aren't exactly thriving in the wake of his exit. They've gone 23-29 with Chad Tracy at the helm. Their issues appear to be far bigger than any one manager can solve.
Cora rebuffed interest from the Phillies to give himself an extended break from managaing. Once he's had some time to recharge, he could be more receptive to job opportunities by the winter.
If he's ready to coach again, Cora will have options.
Brandon Hyde
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Brandon Hyde is another former manager whose reputation might be improving due to his absence from an MLB dugout.
The Baltimore Orioles fired Hyde amid a brutally disappointing 15-28 start in 2025. They went 60-59 after turning to Tony Mansolino as interim manager, and they're six games under .500 (38-44) after bringing Craig Albernaz aboard.
Hyde's 0-5 record in two playoff trips is less than ideal, and the situtation he had in Baltimore is far different than what he'd inherit with the Mets.
The Orioles were embarking on a long-term rebuild when they hired Hyde in 2019, and he got to grow with the young core Baltimore developed up through the minors.
New York couldn't be much further than that in terms of its current roster. Maybe Hyde is better suited to lead an up-and-coming squad rather than a veteran-laden one with a lot of personalities to manage.
His work in Baltimore should at least earn him a second chance somewhere.
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