
Feb 21, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) looks on before the game against the Miami Marlins at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The New York Mets are 12-22 on the season, and there's beginning to be little hope for a turnaround in 2026 if things don't immediately get better.
At the end of April, Carlos Mendoza's seat was hotter than anyone's in the entire league. But David Stearns backed Mendoza and revealed the team had no intention of firing him this year.
However, Zachary D. Rymer for Bleacher Report made a very bold prediction that the Mets would retract their defense of Mendoza and fire their manager in May if things continue to get worse, which looks likely to be the case.
Mets predicted to fire Carlos Mendoza despite rebuffing hot-seat rumor
"The New York Mets will fire Carlos Mendoza," Rymer predicts. "... What if the question isn't how much Mendoza is to blame for the Mets' disastrous stay, but whether the Mets have anything to lose by firing him?
The Mets own the worst record in the Major Leagues this season, and they're 12.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
It's still only May, but their playoff odds have cratered, and it would take a herculean effort for this team to return to contention this season.
More: 75% of Mets' infielders named among biggest disappointments in MLB at their positions
And while Stearns and the Mets are backing Mendoza as their manager, if May continues to go poorly, it can't be ruled out that the Mets might go back on their word with Mendoza.
For the Mets to retract their defense of their manager, it would likely have to be a truly awful month of May or a series of indefensible decisions.
The Mets are more likely to hold onto Mendoza, as Stearns shut down the hot-seat rumors recently.
But the Mets are a disaster, and if things get worse, the safety of Mendoza's job could change, especially if there is frustration from the players, which is possible amid such a bad start to the year.
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