Steve Cohen reveals main reason Mets fired Carlos Mendoza

The New York Mets made a move many saw coming for weeks, if not longer, when they fired manager Carlos Mendoza on June 26.

While speaking with MLB insiders Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on the latest edition of "The Show" podcast, Mets owner Steve Cohen explained why Mendoza is no longer employed by the club. 

Firing Carlos Mendoza was "a mercy shot" delivered by Mets, Steve Cohen

"I think it came down to one simple question: Were we going to extend Carlos or not? And if the answer was no, then in my discussions with [Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns], we both agreed, at this time, give him a break," Cohen explained, per Justin Tasch of the New York Post. "The guy’s sitting in front of the cameras every day, and if you’re not gonna extend him — I describe it as a mercy shot, given where the club was."

While Mendoza was in the final guaranteed year of his contract. Stearns is signed through 2028. During the podcast, Cohen confirmed that he currently plans for Stearns to "live out" the remainder of his deal.

In his first season on the job, Mendoza guided the 2024 Mets on a remarkable turnaround that ended with the club playing in that year's National League Championship Series. As ESPN's Jorge Castillo noted, however, the Mets collapsed from having the best record in baseball in mid-June 2025 to missing the playoffs. New York was then 34-47 when Mendoza was shown the door. 

A Mets side now being led by interim manager Andy Green began July 1 with a record of 36-50.

Steve Cohen on Carlos Mendoza: "Sometimes you have to make a change" 

"Frankly, I watched that game where we had six errors, and the next day we had two errors, and the club just wasn’t playing well," Cohen added. "...I don’t know too many managers that are in that role forever, and that’s just part of the gig, and sometimes you have to make a change." 

Cohen also revealed that upcoming changes he signs off on won't include moving on from either shortstop Francisco Lindor or star outfielder Juan Soto. That said, it remains to be seen if those two will be involved in the club's eventual hiring of Mendoza's full-time replacement.