The New York Mets dismissed manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday amid a significant midseason slump, appointing Andy Green as interim manager. The move came as the team stood at 34-47, trailing 15 games behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves and enduring a six-game losing streak. The Mets held the worst record in the division and the third-worst in the National League at the season's halfway mark.

Mendoza, 46, who had been managing the Mets since 2024, was informed of the decision during a meeting with Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. Mendoza finishes with a 206-198 record over three seasons, including last year’s narrow miss of the postseason after a late-season collapse. Despite being a finalist for National League Manager of the Year in his first season, the team’s struggles this season, combined with a 12-game losing streak in April, placed pressure on his position. The Mets have not made an in-season managerial change since 2008.

Stearns, who took over baseball operations after the 2023 season and was a key figure in assembling the current roster—including high-profile acquisitions such as Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor, and Luis Robert Jr.—acknowledged the team’s underperformance. He described the decision as necessary to move forward and emphasized his responsibility for the team’s results. Owner and CEO Steve Cohen expressed gratitude toward Mendoza, recognizing his leadership and dedication while affirming the organization’s commitment to delivering a championship-contending team.

The 2026 season has been a difficult one for the Mets, who began with baseball’s highest payroll at $358 million and faced the prospect of a $124 million luxury tax. Injuries to key players, including Lindor, Soto, Semien, Robert, Holmes, and Polanco, have hindered the team’s continuity. Soto missed time early in the season due to a calf strain, and upon his return, Lindor suffered a similar injury that kept him sidelined for two months. Other roster challenges include frequent defensive shifts, with the Mets employing multiple players at several positions due to injuries and lineup instability.

The starting pitching rotation has struggled significantly, posting a 4.90 ERA, ranking among the worst in Major League Baseball. The team also traded pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs recently, signaling potential for further roster changes. Offensively and defensively, the Mets have ranked near the bottom of the league, with notable declines in key metrics such as Outs Above Average.

Green, 48, who previously managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019, had been serving as the Mets’ senior vice president of player development since 2024. He will serve as interim manager through the remainder of the season before returning to the front office, with the team expected to conduct a managerial search in the offseason. Green acknowledged the challenges faced by the players and emphasized the need to alleviate burdens that affect performance.

Francisco Lindor, one of the team’s leaders, spoke with Mendoza following the announcement, stating that while the former manager apologized for the team’s struggles, the responsibility ultimately rests with the players themselves.

As the Mets enter the second half of the season, Stearns and Cohen maintain their focus on turning the team’s fortunes around, despite acknowledging the uphill battle ahead amid a roster impacted by injuries and inconsistent performance.