Joel Sherman David Stearns’ flimsy Mets words won’t save Carlos Mendoza — here’s what might By Joel Sherman Published May 5, 2026, 7:00 a.m. ET Carlos Mendoza watches Juan Soto in the on-deck circle during a game against the Nationals on April 30, 2026. Brad Penner-Imagn Images Nothing David Stearns did or said over the past week should make Carlos Mendoza feel better about his job security beyond, perhaps, the next few weeks.
Because in his tactics and his words, the Mets president of baseball operations did not exactly scream to the masses that his manager should feel comfortable. Consider:
1. I reached out to David Stearns last Thursday to let him know I was writing a column saying he or owner Steve Cohen (whom I also reached out to) should either fire Mendoza or publicly back him with a prescribed time in which he definitely would not be dismissed. I was giving them a heads-up on what I was writing and also seeing if either wanted to comment. Neither did.
2. Then, suddenly, the next morning, with the team having travelled the previous day from New York to Southern California, Stearns called Mendoza to inform him of his status.
