Expect a decision on the future of manager Luis Rojas sooner rather than later once the New York Mets’ disappointing 2021 season comes to an end on Sunday.
Those were the sentiments shared by team president Sandy Alderson, who is also fulfilling the capacities of president of baseball operations (PBO) and general manager during a dizzying season that saw dysfunction once again reign supreme in Queens.
Among Alderson and owner Steve Cohen’s docket this offseason is to bring in a PBO — something they failed to do last year despite the desire to fulfill such a position.
“I originally signed on here as president of the team, not as president of baseball operations or general manager,” Alderson said. “And so what I’m hopeful of is that we can find someone who is going to invest in the team long term and will get in the weeds and provide us with the leadership and the expertise that we need on the baseball side.
“From my standpoint, I’m happy to turn that over to someone that we find who’s more than capable.”
While the Mets whiffed on a PBO last winter, their luck with general managers hasn’t been good, either. The team fired Jared Porter after just a few months at the position after it was revealed he sent lewd and inappropriate messages to a female reporter while working with the Chicago Cubs.
His replacement, Zack Scott, was arrested on DWI charges and placed on administrative leave on Sept. 2.
When that day of installing a PBO finally comes for Alderson and the Mets, the managerial situation regarding Rojas, at least, is expected to be resolved.
“Whether that managerial decision is made after that individual is hired or before, it’s difficult to say,” Alderson said. “But I would say given the timing, probably that decision will be made before we have somebody as head of baseball operations.”
Rojas is certainly on the hot seat given the Mets’ collapse in the second half — a far cry from the beginning of the season when he was being lauded for navigating the team to the top spot in the NL East despite a slew of injuries.
Since June 16 — and following Wednesday night’s 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins — the Mets have gone 39-58 after starting the season 36-25. While they were holding onto first place following the All-Star break, a 6-19 August doomed them.
The second-year manager didn’t help his job security, either, especially during a rash of questionable decisions against the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals this month; displaying a timid brand of managing when his team was still very much in the race for a National League Wild Card spot.
“I’m big on process. But ultimately, results matter,” Alderson said. “And if you don’t have good results over a period of time, then the process may not survive… ultimately we have to be governed to some extent not just by the process and by what goes into the results, but the results themselves.”
