The New York Yankees and New York Mets currently rank at No. 2 and No. 3 on the list of MLB team payrolls, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers. The problem is that the Dodgers have a 100 percent chance to make the postseason — their 97-54 record is the second best in baseball, and they've already clinched their playoff spot.
The Yankees, on the other hand, are a good team with an 85-67 record as of this writing, but only have a 26.7 percent chance to make the postseason, at least according to Baseball Reference, in part due to the strength of the AL East. And the Mets, on the other other hand, have a 73-78 record in what-should-have-been a very winnable NL East, and have a less-than 0.1 percent chance to make the playoffs. One question that inevitably pops up, then, is what ultimately will happen to the guys leading the teams through these disappointing campaigns?
That's what Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman discussed on the latest episode of our "Big Time Baseball" podcast, co-hosted by Tony Gwynn Jr. For the Mets, there's a big offseason move that awaits — the hiring of a new president of baseball operations — and the culmination of that search could predicate what to expect in their decision regarding the manager. But no matter which way you spin it, the future doesn't seem all too bright for Luis Rojas, at least in Heyman's eyes.
"...The situation is going to be difficult for Rojas, I think, because this is the second year in a row they've kind of underperformed," Heyman said. "Certainly there have been a lot of injuries. There are a lot of reasons for this. Offensively, they just have not done it. Personally, I think changing hitting coaches a few weeks into the season, I think that was a mistake. I think they should've kept Chili Davis in there — I don't think that was Rojas's call, I think that was a front office decision — and I think it hurt him.
"Fair or not, I would say Rojas is in a tough spot... I think that he's likely not to be coming back. We'll see, he's still got a few games to go, but it looks like this [is a] second losing season with a team with a pretty substantial payroll — they're pressing $200 million now. Again, I don't think it's his fault. I don't think he's done a bad job, but I think it'd be unlikely that he'll be back."
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As for Boone, the future is less clear. Gwynn Jr. opined that he thinks Boone will be safe, though he wouldn't be surprised if the team went another route, and Heyman more or less agreed on both fronts.
"Yeah, I'm kind of with you on Boone. I think Cashman, no matter what happened, loves Boone and would want to keep him. That's my impression, it could be wrong," Heyman said. "If they don't make it, I'm with you, I wouldn't be shocked if they made a change. His contract is up. It's not good timing to not make the playoffs, you know, a team with that kind of a payroll.
"Again, I don't think it's his fault. There were roster construction issues, they're way too right-handed, too power-dependent. They had injuries but they shouldn't have been unexpected injuries. I like (Jameson) Taillon, but he's had his [previous] injuries. (Corey) Kluber has been a great pitcher but he barely pitched last year... you know, they brought in guys with question marks even with that big payroll so, again, I don't think it's Boone's fault if he does get let go, but I'm kind of with you. I think he probably stays — certainly if they get in he's going to stay — but if they don't? Question."
Tune into the rest of the episode — embedded above — to hear Heyman's thoughts on the Padres' Jayce Tingler, the Mets' president of baseball operations search and more.
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