Green Takes Mets Helm
Andy Green Assumes Interim Mets Manager Role, Emphasizing Player Development and Fresh Approach
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Key Points
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Green used his first Mets news conference to assemble a lineup around elite players while signaling a commitment to developing rookies, naming Juan Soto, Bo Bichette and Francisco Lindor in that order, with rookie Carson Benge delivering the leadoff hit as part of a broader emphasis on developing A.J. Ewing and Nolan McLean.
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Green will return to the farm-development front office after the season, with Andrew Christie overseeing the farm system in the interim while Green fills the managerial role; Green also reiterated that he ‘chose to come out of the dugout’ and that the full-time managerial grind does not appeal to him.
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Terry Collins, a former Mets manager contributor, suggested Green’s intensity and a fresh voice could help spark a turnaround, noting that sometimes a new leadership style can unlock better execution.
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The Mets entered Green’s interim tenure coming off a string of losses, including a seven-game skid and falling to 14 games under .500, illustrating the immediate pressure on the club to show improvement.
The New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on June 26, 2026, after the team fell to 34–48 — 14 games under .500 and last place in the NL East. Andy Green, the club's Senior Vice President of Player Development, was immediately named interim manager for the rest of the season, MLB Trade Rumors reported.
Green made clear from the start that this is not an audition. "I chose to come out of the dugout years ago," he said. "The full-time managerial grind does not appeal to me long-term, but right now, this felt like a responsibility." He plans to return to his front-office role overseeing player development once the season ends, NY Post confirmed.
How a $358 Million Team Hit Rock Bottom
The 2026 Mets were supposed to compete. The team opened the season with a $358 million payroll — the highest in MLB — and carried expectations of a World Series run after a 2024 NLCS appearance. Instead, the offense ranked 24th in runs scored. Only Juan Soto (167 OPS+) was performing well above league average, according to The New York Times.
A four-game sweep by the Cubs at Citi Field from June 22–25 extended a losing streak to six games and sealed Mendoza's fate. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said: "Despite all our efforts, Mendy's included, we haven't been able to get this going. I take responsibility for the roster construction." The Mets are now 9.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Green Debuts With Joy, Freedom — and Rookie Spotlight
In his first press conference, Green set a clear tone. He wants players to feel free and play with joy. He built his debut lineup around the club's stars — Juan Soto batting first, Bo Bichette second, Francisco Lindor third. That same night, rookie Carson Benge delivered a leadoff hit in his first plate appearance under Green, Metsmerized Online reported.
Green's vision goes beyond one lineup card. He plans to give rookies Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Nolan McLean everyday playing time. Their development — not wins and losses — is now the primary measure of success for the final 81 games. Andrew Christie will oversee the farm system while Green is in the dugout, NY Post noted.
Veterans Feel the Weight of Mendoza's Firing
The clubhouse tone was somber after Mendoza's dismissal. Shortstop Francisco Lindor did not hold back. "We failed Mendy. I failed Mendy. This one is on the players," he said. Juan Soto said it "sucks to see him go." Bo Bichette suggested the manager took the fall for a roster that "failed to meet expectations," according to The New York Times.
Former Mets manager Terry Collins offered a more hopeful view. He said Green's "intensity and fresh voice" are exactly what a struggling veteran clubhouse needs to "unlock better execution." Still, analyst Ryan Finkelstein cautioned that deeper problems — defensive lapses and a rotation with the third-worst ERA in the NL — remain unsolved by a coaching change alone.
Offseason Search Begins as Mets Eye a New Identity
Even as Green managed his first game, the Mets were already drafting a profile for a permanent manager search this winter, per Metsmerized Online. Stearns confirmed a full-scale search will follow the season. The next hire will be shaped by how the final 81 games unfold — and how well the rookies perform in high-leverage situations.
The organization also traded pitcher David Peterson to the Cubs just 24 hours before Mendoza's firing — a sign the Mets may be shifting into a sell-and-retool mode ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Owner Steve Cohen said: "Our fans deserve better than what we've delivered. The commitment to a championship hasn't changed, but the execution has to."
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