Carlos Beltran never got a chance to manage the Mets when he was considered for the job two years ago. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Beltran favorite to become next Mets manager?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Oct 5, 2021 6:36 PM ET

Former New York Mets slugger and nine-time MLB All-Star Carlos Beltran was set to manage the club ahead of the start of the 2020 season but stepped away from the team before he worked a single game in the role because of his involvement in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal.

Luis Rojas ultimately earned the job and guided the Mets to an overall record of 103-119 and zero playoff appearances across a pair of campaigns before the club announced Monday it had declined the 2022 option attached to Rojas' contract.

Time heals all wounds, and the Mets need a new manager. Enter the previously mentioned Beltran, whom Oddschecker listed Tuesday as the favorite to win the job at +400.

However, not everyone is convinced the Mets would go back to Beltran if presented with the opportunity:

There is very little that I am certain of in this life. But if there is one thing I feel comfortable saying it is that Carlos Beltrán will not be the next manager of the New York Mets. https://t.co/yVFAO82X6F
— Nathalie Alonso (@NathalieMLB) October 5, 2021

It's worth noting such speculation seems silly since the Mets also need to hire a new president of baseball operations who ideally would have a significant say regarding the person who becomes the club's next manager. The Mets reportedly could speak with former Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein about the position as soon as later this week, and the club has also been linked with Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane and Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns.

None of those men had any part in the Mets previously hiring Beltran.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads: