The Hidden Pressure Impacting Carlos Mendoza with the Mets

The New York Mets are off to a brutal start that has increased the pressure under the seat of manager Carlos Mendoza. After presiding over one of the worst collapses in baseball history a year ago, Mendoza was one of the few survivors of a massive overhaul to both his coaching staff and the roster.

"You know that at some point during the regular season of 162, you're going to face adversity. Here we are, pretty early, facing adversity. You've just got to find a way to get through it. You've got to find a way. We will."

- Carlos Mendoza pic.twitter.com/geFq9tn1h3
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 14, 2026

While Mendoza has stood up for his team throughout their eight-game losing streak, some frustration began to surface at the end of their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a bit surprising to see Mendoza actually call out his players for not performing on the field after Wednesday's 8-2 defeat, a noted change of tone from his previously stated beliefs that they will find their way out of this in due time.

Carlos Mendoza talks about what it will take for the Mets to turn things around:

"Guys got to start playing better. That's as simple as that. They're too talented, but right now, we're not seeing anything on the field. It's not got anything to do with preparation, with the work… pic.twitter.com/GuejVPHplZ
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2026

A bad season would undoubtedly lead the Mets to move on from Mendoza, who is in his third year at the helm as manager. Mendoza is also under extra pressure since he is managing this season as a lame duck, with The Athletic's Tim Britton reporting that the Mets haven't picked up their 2027 club option on Mendoza yet.

Britton notes that Mendoza is one of three managers currently managing without a guaranteed contract for next season. The other two are Arizona's Torey Lovullo, who has been in this situation many times, and Kurt Suzuki, who received only a one-year contract from the Angels in his first managerial job.

"You're going to go through stretches where it's hard. Right now, we're in the middle of that stretch. You've got to just ride the storm and keep going."

- Carlos Mendoza pic.twitter.com/EkLagPGSvI
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 14, 2026

Why Didn't The Mets Pick Up Mendoza's 2027 Option?

It is certainly fair to wonder why the Mets allowed Mendoza to enter this season as a lame duck, which could undermine his ability to lead a locker room since players are aware he may not be back next season. It may have been bad optics to pick up his option after the collapse last fall, but Britton pointed out in his report that four other managers had their club options for 2027 picked up in spring training.

A manager's salary is not a prohibitive expense, especially to someone with the resources of team owner Steve Cohen, so perhaps the organization felt the point of symbolically extending Mendoza by picking up his 2027 option was moot. The San Francisco Giants picked up an option on Bob Melvin's contract last summer and fired him in the fall, which is not a great look that the Mets likely didn't want to duplicate.

Even if the Mets had picked up Mendoza's option for 2027, his job would not be safe if the Mets don't turn things around. Picking up the option would have at least been a vote of confidence for David Stearns' hand-picked manager, so it is very curious that the Mets are letting Mendoza lead this team without a locked-in contract for 2027.

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