Carlos Mendoza is set to take over a Mets team coming off what was arguably their most disappointing season in franchise history, but the first-time manager is giddy to inherit the bones of a club that won 101 games just a year ago.
With questions surrounding the culture of the Mets after Tommy Pham called out players' work ethic, and the removal of Buck Showalter, Mendoza doesn't see his arrival as the start of an overhaul. Rather, he hopes to build on what is already there.
"This is a team that won 100 games a year ago," Mendoza said at Tuesday's introductory press conference. "I'm coming in to continue to add to that culture, to continue to build on those positive things we were building.
"That's my goal, to continue to drive that culture."
The Mets are entering a critical offseason after shockingly devolving into trade deadline sellers last season, but Mendoza still points to a core that includes Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and the runner-up Rookie of the Year in Kodai Senga.
"I'm excited about our roster," Mendoza said. "This is a team that won 100 games not too long ago and a lot of the core players are still on our roster.
"Yeah, we have some work to do, and I trust David and his team to continue to make improvements, but I'm very excited with the group of players that we currently have on our roster."
Now that the manager slot has been filled, and David Stearns confirmed that the general manager spot won't be this offseason, attention turns towards a roster that many fans want to see bolstered by more major additions. Those didn't work out for Steve Cohen and company last time around, and Cohen has hinted that a different approach could be taken. Regardless of the game plan, the Mets new manager believes there is enough in house to get back to the postseason.
"We expect to compete in 2024. We like our team," Mendoza said. "There are some talented players coming back from a team that won 101 games not too long ago, and we have some exciting position players at the upper level. So yeah, I'm excited."
