Lindor says Mets players 'failed' ousted Mendoza
Key takeaways
- "I was steadfast in my support for Carlos because we believed in Carlos," Stearns said.
- Stearns said he communicated the news to Mendoza, the team's manager since the 2024 season, in a meeting Friday morning.
- Cohen was at Citi Field on Friday but did not speak to the media.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
NEW YORK -- Hours after the New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, prominent members of the organization took turns assuming responsibility for the team's dismal start of the season while lauding Mendoza's credentials, acumen and work ethic.
But president of baseball operations David Stearns asserted dismissing Mendoza at the season's midway point after months of backing him was necessary to put the last-place club -- ravaged by injuries and underperformance -- in the best position to salvage its season with 81 games remaining.
"I was steadfast in my support for Carlos because we believed in Carlos," Stearns said. "And we believed that collectively, with him helping us lead this, we were going to turn it around. And we haven't. And in some cases it's gotten worse. And when that happens, at some point, we've got to make a change. So there's not one moment or one thing or one observation. But it was time, and so we did this."