It's time for Steve Cohen to get aggressive again.
If Mets Fire Carlos Mendoza, Steve Cohen Should Make MLB’s Boldest Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New York Mets’ summer struggles are officially turning into a full-blown collapse, and owner Steve Cohen is rapidly facing a Carlos Mendoza-sized problem.
Wednesday’s stunning 11-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves, where the Mets blew a 6-0 lead and allowed a nine-run fourth inning, dropped Mendoza’s club to 64-56. New York holds only a narrow one-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds — who slightly helped the Mets by beating the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday — for the NL’s third and final Wild Card spot.
The Mets are 2-9 in August and 9-14 in the second half, and they’re now five games behind the Phillies in the NL East. Incredibly, the Mets had a half-game lead on Aug. 2, but have since gone 1-8 with four one-score losses.
None of this bodes well for Mendoza, even after the Mets reached the NLCS last season. Cohen has a reputation for being aggressive, whether it’s through acquiring players or changing managers, and questions are rapidly mounting about Mendoza’s future in New York. Although firing Mendoza would be drastic, Cohen could easily justify it with how quickly the Mets’ season has fallen apart.
If the Mets fire Carlos Mendoza, Steve Cohen must take a bold approach in the managerial search and target Boston Red Sox manager — and former Mets infielder — Álex Cora.
Why Alex Cora makes sense for the Mets
Whether or not Cora is available this offseason remains to be seen, especially considering that the Red Sox are well on track to reach the playoffs. Boston entered Thursday at 66-56, holding the AL’s second Wild Card seed and only 4 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.
However, Red Sox executive Craig Breslow didn’t hire Cora, who signed a three-year extension worth nearly $22 million last June. Breslow made it clear with the Rafael Devers trade that he’s running the Red Sox how he wants, which typically leads to successful managers being fired outright, resigning, or departing via a mutual parting of ways.
Cora checks every box that Cohen should have, though. Not only is Cora an experienced manager who has won a World Series as both a player and coach, but he’s spent time with some of this generation’s most successful managers. Cora played for Terry Francona in Boston and worked with A.J. Hinch in Houston.
Nearly 20 years ago, the Wilpons kept Willie Randolph after the infamous 2007 collapse, only to see the 2008 Mets narrowly miss the playoffs again under interim manager Jerry Manuel. Cohen would be wise to learn from history: if the Mets’ skid continues, he should move swiftly — and boldly — to bring Alex Cora back to Queens.
Related: Former Yankees Captain Questions Aaron Boone Amid Dreadful Collapse
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
