Carlos Beltran could get his second chance to manage the New York Mets as the seat Carlos Mendoza occupies on the bench grows increasingly hot.
The Mets continued their dismal start with a sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies this weekend, dropping the team to 9-19. There has been growing speculation that the team could part ways with Mendoza, with Beltran’s name coming up as a potential replacement.
Mets Could Return to Carlos Beltran
Though the Mets have given no public indication that they will fire the third-year manager, the team’s putrid start in a season that started with World Series expectations has led to widespread speculation that a move could be coming.
Max Goodman of NJ.com broke down the list of potential candidates to take over for Mendoza if Mets owner Steve Cohen pulls the plug, putting Beltran on the list. The Mets had originally agreed to terms with their former slugger to take over as manager in early 2020, but the two mutually agreed to part ways after Beltran became embroiled in the Houston Astros sign-stealing controversy.
As Goodman noted, Beltran is still with the organization and could make the move to manager if Mendoza is ousted.
“Second time’s the charm?” Goodman wrote, adding, “Beltran, who is currently working as a special assistant to Stearns in New York’s front office, has a busy summer ahead of him. Not only will he be inducted into the Hall of Fame (with a Mets hat on), but the Mets are retiring his No. 15.”
Mets Lose Out on Another Candidate
Recently fired Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora was also named as a potential replacement for Mendoza, but he now appears to have taken himself off the market.
Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, revealed that he tried to hire Cora almost immediately after he was fired by the Red Sox, only to find out that Cora is not entertaining offers right now.
“I talked to him on Sunday morning,” Dombrowski said, via Mass Live. “We talked about potentially taking the job. I had told him I had really come to the conclusion that if he took it, I was going to make a change. I thought he might take it. As time went on over the next day into Monday morning, it was apparent from his perspective that he wanted to take time with his family.”
While engaging in speculation about who could replace Mendoza, Goodman also admitted that team’s poor start is not entirely his fault.
“The reality is that Mendoza is far from the Mets’ biggest problem,” Goodman wrote. “New York has a clubhouse full of players who are not producing. As that continues, fingers must be pointed at the architects of this roster (those in the front office). With the second-highest payroll ($370 million) in baseball, they’re in no position to sit back and wait for this nightmare to end. That’s where a drastic change — like firing Mendoza only one month into the regular season — could come into play.”
Mets Predicted to Hire Carlos Beltran Amid Carlos Mendoza Firing Rumors