The pressure is on New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns to salvage the 2026 season.
Manager Carlos Mendoza became the fall guy for the Mets disappointing start to the season as he was dismissed on Friday.
Stearns had given Mendoza a vote of confidence on May 1, saying that he did not regard the Mets slow start “as a manager problem.”
Mendoza may not be the only domino to fall. Stearns was asked if he had considered stepping aside as well. He naturally answered that he had not while saying that he felt the Mets record “is indicative of some of the advances made in the organization.”
Mets need to show improvement or David Stearns could be out the door next
While Stearns and the front office may feel that they are making progress, they will ultimately be judged on the Mets record at the end of the season. As the Mets entered Friday with a 34-47 record and in the NL East basement, those advances are difficult to see.
Likewise, Stearns has not done himself any favors with his offseason moves. His most notable free-agent signings — closer Devin Williams and infielders Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco — have struggled with the Mets. Second baseman Marcus Semien and outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who Stearns acquired in trades, have also struggled and are both on the injured list.
Stearns is fully aware of the New York Mets record, even if he believes they are better than they have played. If those struggles continue, Stearns has no one else to blame for their failures.