New York Mets manager Luis Rojas will not return for the 2022 MLB season. The Mets on Monday announced they would not be picking up the manager’s option for next season. Rojas, 40 years old, had only recently completed his second season at the helm. Though the Mets played better this season, and at times appeared headed for the postseason, Rojas will nevertheless finishes his tenure in New York with a losing record. The Mets went 77-85 in 2021 after going 26-34 in the shortened 2020 season.
“The entire Mets organization is grateful for the dedication and devotion that Luis has exhibited over the last two seasons as manager,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. “He has shown a great commitment to the Mets over many years in multiple capacities. These decisions are never easy, but we feel a change is needed at this time.”
It’s worth remembering that Rojas, who had previously served as a minor-league manager in the organization, wasn’t the Mets’ top choice for the position. Rather, he received the nod after the Mets fired Carlos Beltran for his involvement in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. Beltran was dismissed before he so much as managed a single game for the Mets franchise — and, unlike AJ Hinch and Alex Cora, the other managers who lost their jobs as part of the fallout, Beltran has yet to have his name resurface as a legitimate candidate for a job.
“I will always hold the relationships and friendships, developed over the years, dear to my heart, and am forever grateful to have been able to wear the Mets uniform for so long,” Rojas said in a statement. “We live in a results oriented business, and am deeply disappointed for our staff and fans that we didn’t reach our goals this season.”
The team noted in its statement that the club has “offered Rojas the opportunity to remain in the organization in a yet to be determined capacity.” Mets owner Cohen also posted a message about on Twitter, saying he “represented the Mets with dignity and calm during two extremely trying years.”
Rojas’ job seemed unsecure heading into last winter, with Cohen and Alderson ostensibly wanting to install their own manager. Yet Rojas survived, if only to fall a year later after his audition with a souped-up roster fell flat.
The Mets have a number of big decisions to make this offseason in addition to identifying their next manager. They have to figure out who will be their next general manager. Acting GM Zack Scott was placed on administrative leave in September after a drunk driving arrest. Scott had taken over for Jared Porter, who was let go by the Mets after it was reported in January he had sent unsolicited sexual images to a female reporter.
The Mets also have to make decisions on whether or not to retain a number of high-profile players who are eligible for free agency: starters Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard, infielder Javier Báez and outfielder Michael Conforto among them.
