Carlos Mendoza’s Next Chapter After Mets Firing
Even though Carlos Mendoza had a rough ending with the Mets in Queens, he’s still in the mix for other managerial opportunities.
The former Mets manager, let go during the season after a lackluster 34-47 start, reportedly emerged as a candidate for the Mariners’ vacant managerial position, as noted by ESPN.
However, despite Seattle showing interest, Mendoza chose to step back from that opportunity to take a role as the third base and infield coach for the Philadelphia Phillies.
After ending their relationship with Dan Wilson, the Mariners are one of only two teams, alongside the Astros, actively seeking a new manager.
At 46, Mendoza has a good amount of experience, having spent over a decade in various capacities with the Yankees, including roles as infield and bench coach, before stepping up to manage the Mets for the 2024 season.
He led the Mets through a memorable season where they bounced back dramatically from a challenging start, ultimately reaching the National League Championship Series, although they were defeated by the Dodgers in six games.
However, things turned south in 2025 as the Mets started strong but couldn’t maintain momentum, experiencing a second-half slump that shattered their playoff aspirations on the final day of the season.
An array of injuries and a distressing 12-game losing streak in April contributed to a disappointing season, resulting in Mendoza’s dismissal in late June, with Andy Green stepping in as his replacement.
During his tenure, Mendoza accumulated a record of 206 wins and 199 losses over two and a half seasons.
Now, he’s moving on to join the coaching staff of Philadelphia, who underwent some changes following another early postseason exit. Despite surprising many by keeping Don Mattingly as manager, the Phillies parted ways with hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson, creating an opening for Mendoza.
The Phillies wrapped up the 2026 season with a fielding run value of -20, which ranked as the seventh-worst in the MLB, according to Baseball Savant.
One of Mendoza’s key tasks will be to improve Trea Turner, the $300 million shortstop who had a notably poor defensive season, prompting team president Dave Dombrowski to issue a crucial warning: improve or potentially lose his spot at shortstop.
“If he plays [shortstop] like he did in 2026, he can’t,” stated Dombrowski. “He knows that. We’ve already provided him with some helpful information, and of course, Carlos Mendoza will be responsible for working with him.”
