From Albert Pujols to Carlos Beltrán, an early look at who might manage the Mets
Mets Fire
Manager
Carlos Mendoza FiredBlame Shifts To StearnsFrancisco Lindor Owns FailureWho Could Manage Next?Aaron Boone ReactsAnalysisFrom Albert Pujols to Carlos Beltrán, an early look at who might manage the Mets
Carlos Beltrán has been named Mets manager once before. Rich Schultz / Getty Images
By Will Sammon and Ken RosenthalJune 26, 2026 Updated 6:16 pm EDTNEW YORK — David Ross? Carlos Beltrán? Albert Pujols?
After firing Carlos Mendoza on Friday, the New York Mets are in the market for their fifth full-time manager since Terry Collins’ retirement following the 2017 season. The list does not include interim manager Andy Green, whom president of baseball operations David Stearns said would return to the front office at the end of the season.
Though Mendoza was in the final guaranteed year of his contract, the Mets held little interest in firing him mid-season until recently. Stearns hired Mendoza in late 2023 as his first manager in New York. Previously, Mendoza worked as the New York Yankees bench coach and held no managerial experience.
Based on knowledge of the market, reporting around the club and conversations with people around the league who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share their opinions, the list below is an early read on potential candidates.
Carlos Beltrán
People outside of the Mets view Beltran as a strong candidate. He was hired to manage the Mets after the 2019 season, and fired before spring training due to his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. But that was before Steve Cohen bought the team, and Beltrán is now firmly back in the Mets family. For the last few seasons, he has worked in the team’s front office in an advisory role with access to players.
Albert Pujols
While Beltrán has never managed at any level, Pujols managed the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and seems to covet the chance to translate his knowledge of the game into a leadership role. “No matter where it is, I’m going to bring in my experience, learning from great managers in the past, and try to do the best that I can to build a great relationship with the players,” Pujols said on MLB Network on Friday. Could the Mets fit another superstar in their room? And take another chance on a first-time major-league manager?
Albert Pujols reacts to the Mets firing Carlos Mendoza after their 34-47 start to the season. pic.twitter.com/bzXvwljoZi
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 26, 2026
David Ross
The Chicago Cubs improved their win total in each of his full three seasons as manager, then dumped him for Craig Counsell. Ross, a catcher, owns media experience that could serve him well in a big market. He also won two World Series as a player.
Alex Cora
The Mets figure to reach out to Cora, who became arguably the biggest managerial name available after his mid-season divorce from the Boston Red Sox. However, Cora profiles as more of a logical fit for Philadelphia. In Boston, Cora won a championship under Dave Dombrowski, now the Phillies’ president of baseball operations.
Brandon Hyde
Hyde built his reputation in player development. He took over the Baltimore Orioles at a low point, then won the American League Manager of the Year in 2023. Previously a bench coach with the Miami Marlins and Cubs, he holds experience with rebuilding and playoff teams. A slow start cost him his job with the Orioles last May.
Omar López
Led Team Venezuela to the WBC championship in March and has spent decades in the Houston Astros organization. López overlapped with Stearns in Houston, and enjoyed success in 12 seasons as a minor-league manager with the organization.
Rocco Baldelli
The former major-league outfielder, a Rhode Island native, won the 2019 Manager of the Year award with the Minnesota Twins. Baldelli, 44, led the Twins to three postseason berths and holds a reputation for strong communication skills with players, the front office and the media.
Dave Martinez
Juan Soto’s manager in Washington for his first four-plus seasons, Martinez was fired last July by the Nationals amid the team’s sixth straight losing campaign. It’s unclear whether Soto would endorse Martinez’s candidacy. While discussing his willingness to move from the third spot in the batting order to second with the San Diego Padres in 2023, Soto said: “In D.C., I was upset to be hitting in the second hole. I tried to tell Davey. He did what he wanted.”
Kai Correa
It was eye-opening when the Mets hired Correa as bench coach as the splashiest addition in a new-look coaching staff under Mendoza at the end of last season’s collapse. Correa’s specialty is infield defense. There was a distinct possibility of him landing at least interviews for a managerial job before taking the Mets’ coaching gig. However, he holds no managerial experience, and the Mets’ poor play in 2026 might dim the chances of them promoting someone from their dugout.
Jake McKinley
McKinley is part of a trend of major-league clubs hiring college coaches for prominent positions. The Seattle Mariners hired him from the University of Nevada as their major league field coordinator. Before leading Nevada, he led player development for the Milwaukee Brewers under Stearns. McKinley has interviewed with clubs for managerial vacancies in the past. However, it is difficult to see the Mets not opting for more experience.
Walker McKinven
McKinven was instrumental working with catchers and implementing strategy in a coaching role with the Brewers under Stearns and then-Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell before becoming bench coach for the White Sox last season.
Gilbert Gomez
An up-and-comer in the coaching industry, Gomez declined to serve as Pujols’ bench coach for the WBC because he wanted to spend more time with the Mets in spring training as their new first base coach. Before joining the big-league staff, he managed the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ High-A affiliate. Gomez might get a manager job eventually, but he may need more experience in a major-league dugout first.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
