What's next for Mets after firing manager Carlos M...
Key takeaways
- Despite a $375 million-plus competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll -- the second-highest total in baseball after the Los Angeles Dodgers -- the Mets are just 34-47 and in last place in the National League East.
- The 2026 Mets have had worse stretches, so why fire their manager now?
- Castillo: Because the last week has been an embarrassment.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Despite a $375 million-plus competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll -- the second-highest total in baseball after the Los Angeles Dodgers -- the Mets are just 34-47 and in last place in the National League East. They are also in the midst of a six-game losing streak following an error-filled four-game sweep at home against the Chicago Cubs.
The 2026 Mets have had worse stretches, so why fire their manager now? Is GM David Stearns on the hot seat, too? What can they do to turn things around? We asked ESPN MLB experts Jorge Castillo and David Schoenfield to tackle some of the toughest questions facing the franchise in Flushing.
Castillo: Because the last week has been an embarrassment. The Mets needed to rattle off a long string of wins. Eight straight, 10 of 12, that sort of thing. Instead, they've lost six consecutive games to fall to a season-worst 13 games under .500. Most damning, though, is they've looked lifeless. The Mets allowed 54 runs over those six losses. They gave up 15 runs to the Phillies last Saturday. Their infield made six errors in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cubs, which the Cubs swept. They were overmatched in a way that a team with their payroll should never be. Yes, injuries are a factor. Yes, Mendoza wasn't the one making the errors or missing his location with pitches over and over again. But the team had sunk to a new level of ineptitude and the manager became the scapegoat.