Mets franchise legend tabbed as favorite to be new manager amid Alex Cora problem

Jul 05, 2026 - 19:45

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Mets franchise legend tabbed as favorite to be new manager amid Alex Cora problem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets fired Carlos Mendoza late into the regular season, and now will be looking for a new manager for 2027 and beyond.

It's an interesting job, as the Mets roster is currently in a strange place with a lot of money invested into stars like Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, some fun young players like Carson Benge and Nolan McLean, but there is a lot wrong right now as well.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, there is a favorite for the manager job at the moment. While it's not Alex Cora due to a Philadelphia Phillies problem, it is a franchise legend and a familiar face.

Mets franchise legend is favorite for manager job

"While the New York Mets would love to hire Alex Cora as their next manager, Cora is still expected to join the Phillies after rejecting their offer to replace Rob Thomson," Nightengale reports. "... Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran is the favorite for the Mets' vacancy when interim manager Andy Green returns to the front office this winter."

Of the potential manager options for the Mets, Cora and Beltran stand out. While Cora might be expected to join the Phillies staff next year, Beltran is the favorite for the Mets.

The franchise legend and MLB Hall of Famer spent seven years with the Mets as a player, recording 31.1 bWAR in 839 games with 878 hits, 149 homers, 17 triples, and 208 doubles with an .869 OPS and 129 OPS+.

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This reunion makes a lot of sense, and while his first try at managing the Mets didn't go well, he and the Mets mutually agreed to part ways before the 2020 season after MLB investigated the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal.

But now, over half a decade later, Beltran is the favorite to return to New York and manage the Mets. Cora and the Boston Red Sox went their separate ways after that sign-stealing scandal, but he joined the Red Sox as their manager not long after.

Nightengale's report indicates Beltran is the favorite, though Cora might be a name to keep in mind if the Phillies don't wind up hiring the former Red Sox manager. But, for now, it's looking likely Beltran will join the Mets after the 2026 season.