New York Mets team president Sandy Alderson addressed the media on Wednesday about the future of manager Luis Rojas. While it remains unclear if Rojas will return for a third season at the helm, it does appear a decision will be made sooner than later.
Indeed, Alderson told reporters that a call on Rojas’ continued employment will be made before the Mets can hire a new president of baseball operations — or, as MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo put it, Alderson himself will decide Rojas’ future.
“Decisions on the manager and coaches will be made after the season,” Alderson told reporters, including SNY’s Steve Gelbs. “My hope is as soon after the season as possible.”
Rojas’ uneasy standing comes as no surprise based on how much the organization has changed since he took over prior to the 2020 season. The Mets have changed owners, general managers (twice), and have reinstalled Alderson in a top executive position.
Factor in how the Mets disappointed this season, failing to make good on the promise that the offseason acquisition of Francisco Lindor (among others) suggested they had, and it stands to reason that Rojas would find himself on the hot seat.
Our own Matt Snyder predicted as much earlier this week, writing the following:
Given all that has gone down with this organization since new owner Steve Cohen took over, it really feels like a house cleaning is in order this offseason. They need a new president of baseball operations and probably general manager. Once those positions are filled, surely the new blood will want to hand pick a manager. As far as Rojas goes, I’m not sure we could absolutely pin the disappointing season on him, but at some point, the buck stops with the manager. That’s just part of the business. I’d be shocked if he’s the Mets’ manager on Opening Day 2022.
It’s worth remembering, too, that Rojas was not the Mets’ first choice for manager. He inherited the job only after the team fired Carlos Beltrán for his involvement in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal before he managed so much as a single game.
Rojas came into Wednesday with a career 101-116 record, good for a 46.5 winning percentage.
