The Mets fired Carlos Mendoza on Thursday after a brutal sweep by the Cubs dropped them to 34-47 and dead last in the NL East. Within 24 hours, the first big name hit the rumor board.
MLB analyst Jim Bowden didn’t wait long. He posted on X that New York should do everything possible to land Alex Cora as their next long-term manager, starting in 2027. It’s an aggressive timeline considering Cora just got fired by Boston after a 10-17 start. But the logic isn’t crazy.
Cora has a complicated history with the Mets. He played for them in 2009 and 2010, putting up decent numbers in 82 games his first year before a tough second stint that ended with his release in August 2010. He batted .207 with no homers and 20 RBIs that season. Not exactly a highlight reel.
But his managing resume is a different story. Cora won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018, his first year at the helm. He also won rings as a player with Boston in 2007 and as a bench coach with the Astros in 2017. That last one comes with an asterisk because of Houston’s sign-stealing scandal, which Cora was implicated in and later suspended for by MLB.
Why Cora Makes Sense for a Messy Situation
The Mets are a mess right now. Firing Mendoza after one full season and change feels reactive, but the front office clearly thinks they need a reset. Cora brings playoff credibility and a reputation for handling high-pressure markets. Boston is a pressure cooker, and he survived there for years before this season’s collapse.
There’s also the personal connection. Cora played in New York and knows the media dynamics. He’s been through the grinder as both a player and manager. The question is whether the Mets want to wade back into the Cora waters given the Houston baggage.
The Houston Factor
The 2017 sign-stealing scandal still follows Cora around. He was the bench coach for that Astros team, and MLB’s investigation found he helped design the system. He got a one-year suspension in 2020, and some teams might shy away from the PR hit. But the Mets have never been shy about controversial hires. They signed Domingo German after his suspension. They traded for Justin Verlander right after the Astros stuff cooled down. If they think Cora can win, they might not care about the optics.
Bowden’s timeline of 2027 suggests a long-term rebuild, which would be a shift for a franchise that usually wants to compete immediately. But with a payroll already bloated and a farm system that’s not elite, maybe a patient approach with a proven manager makes sense.
For now, it’s just noise. The Mets haven’t interviewed anyone yet. But the conversation has started, and Cora’s name is at the center of it.
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