The Mets are hiring Carlos Mendoza as their next manager.
Unknown clown
Unknown clown
Cubs hire Craig Counsel as their new manager.
Craig Counsell bolts Brewers to manage Cubs.
Craig Counsell is leaving the Milwaukee Brewers to become the manager for the Chicago Cubs, sources confirmed to ESPN.It's a blockbuster move for Chicago, which had David Ross as its manager but will now go with Counsell, who had spent the previous decade with their National League Central rival Milwaukee. Ross was under contract for the 2024 season.
Counsell, 53, had also interviewed for the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians managerial openings. The Guardians hired Stephen Vogt as manager and sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan that the Mets are hiring New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their manager.
In nine years with the Brewers, Counsell won three NL Central titles and managed Milwaukee to the postseason in five of the past six years, including a division-winning 92-70 mark in 2023.
The Cubs finished 83-79 last season, finishing second behind the Brewers.
The news was first reported by The Athletic.
Mets hiring longtime Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza as manager.
The New York Mets are hiring Carlos Mendoza as their new manager, sources told ESPN on Monday.Mendoza, 43, comes to Queens after spending 15 years with the Yankees in multiple roles, including managing in the low minor leagues in 2011-12, and the past four seasons as Aaron Boone's bench coach.
The Mets were a top suitor for Craig Counsell, who chose to leave the Brewers for the Chicago Cubs, sources confirmed to ESPN. With Counsell off the board, the Mets moved quickly to snap up Mendoza, who also had interviewed with Cleveland and San Diego for their managerial openings.
A minor league player for more than a decade, Mendoza transitioned into a coaching role with the Yankees and quickly impressed the organization with his knowledge of the game and ability to impart his wisdom to players. He joined the major league staff in 2018 and was Boone's right-hand man, a role he also served for Team Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
He takes over for Buck Showalter, who was fired after a season that started with World Series hopes ended with a 75-87 record despite the largest payroll in the history of the sport. The Mets, who also have a new president of baseball operations in David Stearns, return a number of key players -- including shortstop Francisco Lindor, first baseman Pete Alonso, center fielder Brandon Nimmo, right-hander Kodai Senga and closer Edwin Diaz -- and are expected to be active in free agency, pursuing star two-way player Shohei Ohtani, among others.
After making a splash by hiring Showalter before the 2022 season, the Mets opted for a lower-profile hire in Mendoza. He distinguished himself in interviews, according to sources.
In previous years, Mendoza had interviewed for managerial jobs in Detroit (which chose A.J. Hinch), Boston (Alex Cora) and Chicago (Pedro Grifol). He ends up with arguably one of the best jobs in the big leagues, as the Mets plan to carry among the highest payrolls in baseball for the foreseeable future under owner Steve Cohen and are looking for their first championship since 1986.
It is also a job that recently has had a short shelf life. The Mets' past three managers -- Showalter, Luis Rojas and Mickey Callaway -- were fired after two years.
Guardians name ex-All-Star catcher Stephen Vogt new manager.
The Cleveland Guardians hired Stephen Vogt as their new manager Monday, tabbing the former All-Star catcher with no managerial experience but who has widespread respect through the game for his knowledge and leadership skills.Vogt agreed to a three-year deal, sources told ESPN.
The Guardians will introduce Vogt during a news conference Friday at Progressive Field.
Vogt, 39, replaces Terry Francona, the future Hall of Fame manager who retired after 11 seasons with Cleveland. Vogt inherits a team in transition after a 76-86 season but just one year removed from winning the American League Central.
For the past year, Vogt served as bullpen and quality control coach for the Seattle Mariners. He retired as a player following the 2022 season after a 10-year major league career that included two All-Star appearances.
Almost immediately upon his retirement from playing, Vogt was seen as a future manager. Teams often target former catchers as managerial prospects -- Vogt is the 14th former catcher among big league managers -- and his experience as a clubhouse force players rallied around prompted Cleveland to look beyond his lack of experience running a team.
"Stephen earned a reputation as one of the best teammates in the game across his 16-year career as a player, and we've greatly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know him over the past several weeks," Chris Antonetti, the Guardians' president of baseball operations, said in a statement.
"Stephen has thought critically about the type of leader and manager he wants to be. His deep care for others, his ability to build meaningful relationships with those around him, and his open-mindedness and curiosity make him an ideal fit to lead our club moving forward. We couldn't be more excited to partner with Stephen."
The Guardians return one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with the emergence of three rookie starters -- Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Logan Allen -- to complement Triston McKenzie and Shane Bieber, the latter of whom could be traded this winter. Cleveland's offense remains something of a black hole, though Josh Naylor's emergence alongside star third baseman Jose Ramirez, and the potential signing of a free agent outfielder could help in a wide-open AL Central.
Cleveland's managerial search spanned a wide variety of candidates, including Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, Los Angeles Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough, Chicago Cubs bench coach Andy Green and San Francisco Giants bullpen coach Craig Albernaz.
Logan Webb is a finalist?
What happened to Justin Steele or Spencer Strider?
What happened to Justin Steele or Spencer Strider?
Which team will sign the 25-year-old ace?
Rookie of the year announcement today
