Mets hiring Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as manager, per sources: What he brings to Queens.
The New York crosstown rivalry is heating up with the Mets hiring Carlos Mendoza away from the Yankees as their manager, league sources said Monday.
Mendoza, 43, heads to Queens after serving as the Yankees’ bench coach for the last four seasons. He’s spent 15 years with the Yankees organization in multiple roles, including working as an infield coach and managing in the club’s minor league system.
Mendoza becomes the third Mets manager since owner Steve Cohen took control of the club in late 2020. Luis Rojas, now the Yankees’ third base coach, and Buck Showalter held the job for two seasons each. The Mets parted ways with Rojas, who was already managing the team when Cohen assumed ownership, in 2021 and brought in the veteran Showalter.
After Showalter compiled a 175-147 record in New York, the Mets announced on the final day of the regular season that he would not return to the team in 2024. The club went 101-61 in 2022 under Showalter and reached the National League Wild Card Series. However, a flurry of major offseason moves and raised hopes of World Series contention ended in a disappointing 75-87 record in 2023.
The Mets are the third team to fill their vacant managerial role Monday after the Cleveland Guardians surprisingly hired former journeyman catcher Stephen Vogt, who retired from playing one year ago. Shortly after news of Mendoza’s hiring broke, the Chicago Cubs snatched up Craig Counsell, whose contract with the Milwaukee Brewers expired on Oct. 31.
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David Stearns’ vision for Mets manager
The day he was introduced as the Mets’ president of baseball operations, Stearns said he looked at the manager position “as one of true partnership — someone who is working side by side with me and the rest of our baseball ops group.” He added, “The manager has so many responsibilities these days. It is a big job. But first and foremost is the ability to manage people, manage personalities and create and facilitate an organization culture where people enjoy coming to work and work hard.”
Stearns’ success in Milwaukee was propelled by that kind of partnership with Counsell, and Mendoza had an up-close look at the partnership in the Bronx between general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, which has delivered more mixed results of late. Stearns didn’t shy away from hiring a first-time manager. He aimed to hire “the right person who we believe can grow with the organization and hopefully be here for a long time.”
The last four Mets managers — Mickey Callaway, Carlos Beltrán, Rojas and Showalter — have all lasted two seasons or less. New York sure hopes this hire breaks that trend. — Tim Britton, Mets staff writer
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What Mendoza brings to the Mets
With a background in player development over several years with the Yankees, Mendoza carries a strong reputation in the industry for being detail-oriented with an advanced ability to make decisions using evidence.
However, a risk exists — and becomes heightened in New York — with turning the manager job over to a first-timer. Perhaps things will work out differently this time, given Stearns’ strong presence leading the Mets and his history as someone adept at making hires. However, Stearns has never hired a manager before.
Those who know him well suggest Mendoza’s calm personality and experience as a trusted assistant in New York would help him navigate pressure situations. — Will Sammon, Mets staff writer
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Yankees bench coach candidates
It’s unclear whether they would look internally to fill the spot at bench coach or if they would look externally. Internally, the Yankees could consider promoting current third base coach Luis Rojas to the job of being Boone’s right-hand man. Rojas previously served as manager of the Mets.
Another potential internal candidate: Shelley Duncan, the coach at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rojas never played in the majors, but Duncan played parts of seven seasons with the Yankees, Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays. Duncan, 44, was thought of highly by the players at Scranton for his intensity and his day-to-day feel and communication this season, which was his first in the role.
If the Yankees look externally, they could rely on Boone’s input. When the Yankees fired their hitting coach last July, they brought in Sean Casey, who had no prior coaching experience but was close with Boone from their playing days in Cincinnati. Boone is heading into the final year of his three-year deal, and if the Yankees bring in someone external, they run the risk of fans potentially viewing him as Boone’s eventual successor. — Brendan Kuty, Yankees staff writer
Mendoza’s value to the Yankees
Mendoza was well-respected inside the Yankees’ organization — from the front office down to the players. Cashman said in 2021, after Mendoza interviewed for a few managerial vacancies, how he thought the team’s bench coach would become a manager soon enough and be “really good at it” whenever he got his opportunity.
Mendoza got his start in player development and was still heavily involved on that front in his role as Boone’s right-hand man. Before every game, Mendoza would hit ground balls and provide hands-on guidance. The Spanish-speaking Yankees, in particular, looked at Mendoza as a mentor and a trusted confidant inside the clubhouse.
Numerous Yankees have lauded Mendoza’s teaching style and his communication skills, especially when it comes to understanding the modern game and providing clarity on the importance of analytics. — Chris Kirschner, Yankees staff writer
