The New York Mets fired Carlos Mendoza on Friday after a season that went off the rails faster than anyone in Queens expected. Andy Green takes over as interim manager, but he’s expected to head back to the front office once the season ends. That means the Mets have a winter shopping list that includes a new skipper.
Plenty of names will get attached to this job over the next few months. But right now, three candidates stand out for different reasons. Let’s run through them.
Alex Cora Brings the Pedigree
Cora is going to be the hottest name on the managerial market this winter. The Red Sox moved on from him after a disappointing season in Boston, but nobody doubts his ability to run a clubhouse. He’s got a World Series ring. He knows how to handle big markets and big expectations.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has never been shy about spending money, whether it’s on players or front office talent. If Cora wants a record-setting contract, Cohen probably won’t blink. Multiple MLB insiders have already linked Cora to the Mets job, and that noise is only going to get louder.
Carlos Beltran Already Knows the Building
Beltran was supposed to be the Mets manager back in 2020 before the Astros sign-stealing scandal blew everything up. He never got to manage a single game. But he returned to the organization in 2023 as a front office advisor, and he spent seven seasons as a player in Flushing.
That familiarity matters. The Mets need someone who understands the internal dynamics, the roster, and the pressure cooker that is New York baseball. Beltran checks all those boxes. He doesn’t have a ton of managing experience, but the team already knows what they’re getting.
Albert Pujols Might Want This One Bad
Pujols has never managed in the big leagues, but he led the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He’s a future Hall of Famer with 703 home runs and a resume that commands immediate respect in any clubhouse.
And according to SNY’s John Harper, Pujols has quietly made it known he’d take the Mets job if it came open. A source told Harper that Pujols expressed interest in recent weeks, before the Mendoza decision was even made. If Pujols wants the job and Cohen wants him back, a deal could come together fast.
Pujols has been linked to other MLB openings in past seasons, but nothing ever materialized. This feels different. The Mets have the money and the willingness to think outside the box.
So Who Gets It?
Cora has the most proven track record. Beltran has the organizational ties. Pujols has the star power and the reported interest. Any of them would bring something different to the job.
If I had to bet right now, it’s Beltran. Cohen could absolutely throw a giant bag at Cora, but Beltran’s history with the Mets gives him an edge that’s hard to ignore. He’s already in the building. He already knows the rhythm of the front office. And there’s a sense of unfinished business from 2020 that might appeal to everyone involved.
Then again, the Mets could end up hiring someone nobody is talking about yet. That’s how these things usually work. But for now, Beltran feels like the guy.
The offseason is a long way from over. At least the Mets know where to start looking.
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