Why Mets' Carlos Mendoza reportedly has less job security than David Stearns

New York Mets fans aren't hiding that they're blaming team president of baseball operations David Stearns for the fact that the club began Wednesday with a record of 13-22. 

Nevertheless, it seems to be a given that manager Carlos Mendoza and not Stearns will be shown the door if a big move is made during the 2026 season. For a piece published on Wednesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic explained why big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen seems willing to ride it out with Stearns for the foreseeable future. 

Money talks regarding the job statuses of Carlos Mendoza, David Stearns

"Mendoza is in the final guaranteed year of his contract," Britton wrote. "Stearns is signed through 2028. The Mets already put the target on Mendoza by replacing the majority of his coaching staff in the winter."

Stearns assembled portions of the Mets roster that completed a trip to the 2024 National League Championship Series, and he was a huge fan favorite when the 2025 Mets ended June 12 with a record of 45-24.

Since then, however, the not-so-Amazins have endured a brutal collapse that ended with them missing the playoffs last season. Additionally, Stearns dismantling the core of the club's roster this past offseason via moves that were unpopular at the time hasn't made the Mets better as it pertains to their overall record. 

That said, neither Stearns nor Mendoza can be blamed for the club's current injury crisis. The Mets won three of their last four, but talk about whether or not firing Mendoza could give the team any kind of spark will resurface the second New York loses a couple of games in a row. 

Steve Cohen not ready to give up on David Stearns?

"Steve Cohen didn’t wait multiple seasons (and cycle through four different hires) at Mendoza’s position the way he did for Stearns," Britton continued. "Cohen wanted Stearns no later than the fall of 2021, and it took him at least two years to hire him. He’s not going to jump ship on that this early and restart the carousel at the top of his organization."

Stearns' seat will likely be quite warm if the Mets miss the playoffs later this year. For now, it sounds like he has little to worry about regarding his short-term future.