Mets Relieve Rojas of His Duties As Manager

 

Citi Field. Photo by Jason Schott.

One day after concluding one of the most disappointing seasons in their history, on Monday afternoon, the Mets declined to pick up the option for the 2022 season on Manager Luis Rojas.

Decisions on the rest of their coaching staff will be made over the next several days, and the Mets have offered Rojas the opportunity to remain in the organization in a different capacity.

The Mets finished 77-85, in third place in the National League East, after they were in first place from May until early August before the bottom fell out on their season. Losing their ace and surefire Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom for the season in late July precipitated their decline.

It is incredible to think that, on July 4th, the Mets played the Yankees in the Subway Series, and it was the Mets who were flying high while the Yankees' season was on the ropes. As happens a lot, the Yankees found a way to make the playoffs, and face the Red Sox tomorrow night in the Wild Card game, while the Mets are facing another tough winter.

Letting Rojas go now means that whoever the team hires as team president (Theo Epstein and Billy Beane among those being considered) will be able to bring in their own manager.

Mets President Sandy Alderson said in a statement, "The entire Mets organization is grateful for the dedication and devotion that Luis has exhibited over the last two seasons as manager. He has shown a great commitment to the Mets over many years in multiple capacities. These decisions are never easy, but we feel a change is needed at this time."

Rojas, who managed throughout the Mets farm system, was named the Mets manager ahead of the 2020 season after their they dismissed Carlos Beltran after his role in the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal was revealed. Beltran never managed a game after was named to replace Mickey Callaway. (Side note: Maybe they should bring him back after seeing other people implicated, such as Red Sox Manager Alex Cora, got a second chance).

The Mets went 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in which they never were really in it. Couple that with this season's 77-85, and Rojas went 103-119 in his two seasons at the helm.

"I want to share such heartfelt gratitude to so many in the Mets organization for not only the last two seasons as manager, but for the last 16 years in a variety of roles," Rojas said in a statement. "In each and every position I held, striving for excellence was our daily mission. I will always hold the relationships and friendships, developed over the years, dear to my heart, and am forever grateful to have been able to wear the Mets uniform for so long. We live in a results oriented business, and am deeply disappointed for our staff and fans that we didn't reach our goals this season.