The New York Mets have reaffirmed their support for manager Carlos Mendoza despite one of the franchise's worst starts. President of baseball operations David Stearns announced Friday that Mendoza will remain at the helm. The team sits at 10-21 after 31 games.
In Anaheim, California, ahead of a series opener against the Angels, Stearns told MLB.com, “We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more. We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.” The Mets' 10-21 mark ranks as the third-worst 31-game start in franchise history, behind the 1981 and 1964 teams. Stearns personally called Mendoza Friday morning to confirm his job security, even as injuries to stars like Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Jorge Polanco have hampered the offense, which ranks 29th in runs scored. Club officials attribute the struggles across the organization, not solely to the manager. Mendoza, speaking at Angel Stadium, expressed appreciation for the backing from owner Steve Cohen and Stearns. “Since Day 1, since I’ve been in this job, I feel the support from Steve and Alex [Cohen] and David. Like, I love working for them,” he said. “We are all in this together. We lose together, we win together. And that’s how we will continue to do this. … We’re all responsible, and it starts with me.” The 46-year-old Mendoza, in the final guaranteed year of his three-year contract with a 2027 club option, guided a 2024 turnaround from a 24-35 start. Officials believe 131 games remain for a potential climb in the National League standings, despite no team ever recovering from 12 straight losses to reach the expanded playoffs. Cohen has voiced playoff aspirations as his baseline goal, and Mendoza faces no immediate firing risk during the ongoing West Coast trip.
