Who could be next as Mets manager? Early look at candidates for 2027

NEW YORK — Before Andy Green led the Mets in his first game as interim manager on Friday night, he discussed how he was not exactly running toward the manager’s seat.

Green had turned down other chances to interview for manager positions across Major League Baseball. He grew to love his role as the Mets’ senior vice president of player development and had a great deal of respect for Carlos Mendoza, who had been let go that morning.

“This felt like a responsibility more than an opportunity once it was made known to me that there was nothing that was going to change the change,” Green said. “Once I learned that, I genuinely believe that given my life experience, I was best positioned to help over the next three months and see what we can get done as a group.”

Green will slide back into his role as the team’s farm director after the 2026 season. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said the club’s front office will begin a comprehensive manager search in the offseason.

After Mendoza, a first-year manager, went from the height of 2024’s trip to the National League Championship Series to the depths of last season’s failure and this year’s sputtering start, the next decision between a tested leader or an up-and-coming baseball mind should be an intriguing one.

Here are eight early manager candidates for the Mets to consider ahead of the 2027 season:

Before Mendoza had been fired, there already appeared rampant desire outside the Mets organization to take a swing on Cora, the biggest free agent manager after he was fired by the Red Sox in late April.

The 50-year-old would bring a championship pedigree and experience leading in a baseball-crazed market. The Red Sox won the World Series title in Cora’s first season in 2018. He has 620 career wins and had a .534 winning percentage in eight seasons.

Beltran had already been tabbed to lead the Mets ahead of the 2019 season but never had the chance to manage a game after he was dismissed as the details surrounding his involvement in the Astros‘ sign-stealing scandal came to light.

Time has passed, and Beltran is already steeped in the culture with the Mets as a special assistant to David Stearns. His Hall of Fame playing career could resonate with players. (He is already viewed as a mentor for Francisco Lindor.) Beltran’s induction this summer might have been the one thing standing in his way of the interim tag.

McKinven has a wealth of experience in various roles across Major League Baseball, beginning his career as a video coordinator and rising to take a spot as the White Sox‘s bench and catching coach last season.

The biggest selling point could be his familiarity with Stearns. McKinven spent nine seasons in the Brewers organization, beginning in 2016 as an advance video scout. He took over as the team’s associate pitching, catching and strategy coach in 2021 before ultimately becoming the Brewers’ — get this — run prevention coordinator in 2024.

Could one of baseball’s greatest hitters move on and drop into the manager’s seat in the biggest market. Pujols’ trajectory appears heading toward that role after he served as the Dominican Republic’s skipper in the last World Baseball Classic and led Leones del Escogido to a Dominican Winter League title in 2024-25.

That means he already has a relationship with Juan Soto, which could be a selling point for the Mets front office. The three-time MVP, who is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, has voiced his aspirations for managing in MLB.

The former major league outfielder, who played six seasons in the big leagues, appears poised to take the next step after rising through the coaching ranks. Lombardi is currently serving as the Tigers’ bench coach under A.J. Hinch after serving as the Dodgers’ first base coach between 2016 and 2020, when they won their first of three World Series titles this decade.

Lombard has served as the Tigers’ bench coach for the last six seasons. A move to the Mets could help him be closer to his son, George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ top prospect who should be in New York in due time.

If the Mets are looking for experience and a knowledge of the organization, there might not be a better candidate than Scott, who has spent the last 13 seasons with the Mets including four as the manager for Triple-A Syracuse.

Scott has acumen of the ins and outs of the system after serving as the director of player development of the Mets and Marlins for a combined six seasons. He also served as the Mets’ bench coach under Terry Collins in 2016 and 2017.

Thomson was the second high-profile firing of the 2026 season despite his long track record of success. The former Phillies manager holds their highest winning percentage (.568) and led the club to the playoffs in four straight seasons, including the World Series after taking over for Joe Girardi midway through the 2022 season.

Thomson, who has spent nearly four decades in a leadership role in baseball, is more than familiar with the New York market. He joined the Yankees’ organization in 1990, ultimately taking over as the club’s major league field coordinator in 2007 and serving as Joe Girardi’s bench coach for 10 seasons.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who could be next as Mets manager? Early look at candidates for 2027