Next move Mets must make to save season after Carlos Mendoza firing

The New York Mets have been a flat-out disaster during the 2026 season. As they have reached the halfway point of the season, the Mets and their huge payroll of more than $300 million find themselves in last place in the National League East with a 34-47 record. The Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza Friday as a result of their disappointing performance.

As they host a three-game series against the archrival Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field this weekend, they are playing their worst baseball of the season. They were swept in a four-game series at home by the up-and-down Chicago Cubs, and they committed six errors in their 10-5 loss in the third game of that series. While general manager David Stearns did not point to that game as the reason the team fired Mendoza, but it could not have helped his cause.

The Mets appear to be too far gone to rescue their season — at least from a logical point of view. They are 9.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, the team in the third and final Wild Card position in the National League. The history of baseball is littered with stories of team that have come from huge deficits and overall poor performances in the first half of the season to play winning baseball in the second half.

If the Mets make several key moves, they may have a chance to write their own baseball history in 2026.

Mets must name Francisco Lindor as their captain

Lindor is the Mets’ best all-around player and the longest-tenured member of the team. Owner Steve Cohen had said during spring training that he was not a fan of naming a captain, but the dismissal of Mendoza and the naming of front office executive Andy Green as the interim manager means that the team needs significant leadership.

Lindor has the demeanor and the stature within the locker room to serve as the team’s captain and do an excellent job in that role. The 32-year-old Lindor is in his 12th big league season and his sixth with the New York Mets after establishing himself in his first six seasons with the Cleveland Guardians.

Lindor is a five-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger winner and a two-time Gold Glove shortstop. He has been quite limited this season because of a left calf strain that he suffered in April. Lindor has played in just 25 games and his numbers are unimpressive — .214 batting average with just 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in — but he has recently returned to the lineup.

Naming Lindor captain would give the Mets a true leader who will get his teammates to follow him in a singular fashion. While he regularly plays with a smile on his face and displays his joy while playing the game, he can get serious when he has to and it will only help the team.

Name Albert Pujols as Mets manager

Baseball fans get to see one of the greatest hitters in the last 25 years on a regular basis as an analyst on the MLB Network. While Pujols comes across as a relatively mild-mannered individual, it’s clear that he knows more about hitting than nearly anyone on the planet after a brilliant career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pujols served as the manager of the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic this year, and he led that team to the semifinals of the high-profile tournament. While the DR dropped a 2-1 decision to the United States in that game, Pujols gained respect from his players and throughout the baseball world.

He has made it clear that he wants to manage in the Major Leagues and would welcome a chance to interview for any big league managerial job. However, he may be the right choice for the Mets because he has a strong relationship with Mets star slugger Juan Soto.

New York’s best hitter was the star of the Dominican Republic team in the WBC, and there is obvious respect between the two. As talented as Soto is, his focus could improve and an association with Pujols could only help in that area.

Put out a steady lineup and don’t have players jumping around 

The Mets rarely put out the same lineup for more than a few games at a time under Mendoza. That’s no way for a team to reach its potential. When players are changing position both in the field and in the batting order, it leads to insecurity.

If a player is performing well, he needs to know he is going to be in the same position on a regular basis. No reason to make changes in the lineup if players are healthy and performing well.

One specific move that needs to be made is to take Mark Vientos off of first base. He is very shaky in the field and when the other infielders see him out there, it leads to a lack of confidence. It was no surprise that the Mets made six errors in a game with Vientos at first base.

The post Next move Mets must make to save season after Carlos Mendoza firing appeared first on ClutchPoints.