Mets reportedly make Carlos Mendoza decision after completing collapse

In late August, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns suggested that manager Carlos Mendoza would keep his job even though his club had become arguably the biggest MLB-related disappointment of the summer. 

After the Mets were eliminated from postseason contention via Sunday's 4-0 loss at the Miami Marlins, MLB insider Andy Martino offered an update on Mendoza's status. 

Will Mets clean house after 2025 collapse? 

"According to sources with direct knowledge, the Mets have no plans to fire Carlos Mendoza," Martino shared. "A change would require a series of events that was not at all in motion as the Mets finished off their collapse on Sunday evening. You should, however, expect notable and perhaps widespread changes to the coaching staff. This feels like the biggest news to watch in the immediate aftermath."

Mendoza was a first-year skipper when the Mets were 22-33 on May 29, 2024, but then emerged as a Manager of the Year Award candidate as he guided the club to a surprising trip to the National League Championship Series. The Mets then seemed to be World Series contenders when they ended June 12 of this year with a record of 45-24. From there, things consistently went from bad to worse for Mendoza's side. 

Per StatMuse, the Mets went a woeful 38-55 from June 13 through Sunday. As ESPN's Jorge Castillo mentioned, Mendoza can't be blamed for the fact that Stearns assembled a roster responsible for a "rotation that couldn't pitch deep into games enough, an overworked bullpen and baffling offensive inconsistency" over the campaign's final three-and-a-half months. 

That said, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News noted that the 2025 Mets went 0-70 when trailing after the eighth inning of games. Such a lack of fight could lead some to believe the team could possibly use a different voice in the clubhouse. 

Carlos Mendoza owns the Mets' collapse

"I take responsibility," Mendoza said after Sunday's loss, per Garrett Stepien of SNY. "I'm the manager. It starts with me, and I've got to take a long look here — how I need to get better. That was a message to the whole team as well. This is unacceptable."

Mendoza may stay put, but it appears the Mets may need to find a long-term replacement for first baseman Pete Alonso. Alonso confirmed on Sunday that he plans to opt out of his contract, and star closer Edwin Diaz could do the same. 

"Since Day 1, when you're in this chair, you're on the hot seat — as simple as that," Mendoza added. "When you're managing a team that has a lot of expectations and you go home, questions like this are going to come up and that's part of it. That's it. I'm responsible, and I have to be better — as simple as that."

It sounds like Mendoza will receive an opportunity to "be better" next spring after his players let him down this year.