Mets Name Mendoza Manager; To Be Introduced Tuesday

 

Carlos Mendoza in his new pinstripes. @Mets.

On Monday, one week after it was indicated in news reports, the Mets made it official and named Carlos Mendoza as their new manager.

Mendoza signed a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year, after being lured across town from the Yankees, where he served as their Bench Coach for the past four seasons.

"I couldn't be more excited to manage this tremendous franchise," said Mendoza, who will be the 25th manager in Mets history. "I want Mets fans to know that I will pour ever ounce of energy into this job and we share a common goal of bringing a championship to Queens. I'm proud to represent Venezuela and the Mets and I'm grateful Steve, Alex, and David gave me this wonderful opportunity."

Mendoza will become the second Venezuelan-born manager in Major League history, after Ozzie Guillen, who led the Chicago White Sox to a World Series championship in 2005. Mendoza is a native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and he served as the bench coach for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, and managed the Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan Winter League in 2021 and 2022.

Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement, "We are excited to begin this new chapter of Mets baseball. Carlos brings a wealth of experience to the Mets that includes more than a decade managing and coaching in the minors as well as serving as bench coach the last four years with our cross-town rivals. Carlos is full of energy, passion and it was easy to see he'll have a great rapport with both our veteran and young players."

In his 15 years in the Yankees organization, Mendoza was a coach with the Single-A Staten Island Yankees in 2009 and Single-A Charleston in 2010, managed the Gulf Coast Yankees to a championship in 2011, returned to Charleston as their manager in 2012, then was the Yankees lower level infield coordinator from 2013-17, and field coordinator in 2017. In 2018, he became the Yankees' major league quality control coach and infield coach, and served in those roles for two seasons before becoming bench coach in 2020.

Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said in a statement, "We promised an exhaustive search and we are thrilled to introduce Carlos as the next manager of the Mets. Carlos has a brilliant baseball mind and a finely honed ability to collaborate with others. He comes with a fantastic reputation as a trusted leader and someone who has been beloved in every stop of his career. Carlos knows what it takes to lead, especially here in New York, and I am looking forward to partnering with him to bring sustained success to this franchise."