The New York Mets removed the interim tag from manager Andy Green and agreed to a three-year contract with him to remain at the helm through the 2029 season, the team announced Tuesday before starting its final trip of the year against the Texas Rangers.
The decision comes with six games left in a season that is concluding on a high note despite going down as a monumental disappointment.
The Mets carried World Series aspirations going into the season with the second-highest payroll in the majors after failing to reach the playoffs in 2025. But significant injuries, including to Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, and widespread underperformance throughout the roster derailed their season early.
New York was 34-47 when manager Carlos Mendoza was fired and Green, who previously worked in the front office, was named interim manager in late June. Since then, they're 37-38 under Green and have held their own against a variety of playoff-caliber opponents in the second half after trading eight major leaguers in the weeks leading to the trade deadline.
"I think Andy brings to us an ability to connect the organization in ways that very few people could," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns at a pregame news conference in Texas. "He allows us to connect front office to dugout. He allows us to connect minor league to major league. He provides us a level of continuity that we need right now, a level of stability and belief that our players and our entire organization covet."
Within the disappointment of this season, several young players have developed into foundational pillars for the future. The list includes right-hander Nolan McLean and outfielder Carson Benge, both of whom are expected to finish in the top four in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
"The last three months I think there's been progress," Green said. "We've got more to do."
Green, 49, was the Mets' vice president of player development when he was asked by Stearns to replace Mendoza. At the time, and through the summer, it was presumed to be a temporary move as Green, citing his desire to spend time with his wife and twin daughters as they finish high school next year, insisted he wanted to return to the front office after the season -- and Mets officials said they would oblige.
But all along, Mets officials hoped Green would change his mind and consider becoming the franchise's 26th manager.
"Simply put, I think Andy's the perfect person for the job," Stearns said.
"Andy has connected with and pushed our players to perform, despite the disappointment of the season," Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in the statement. "Over the last several months he has brought discipline, accountability and positivity to the clubhouse, attributes we were seeking in our next manager."
Green said, "The players in the clubhouse have rekindled the love I have for being in the dugout," and his desire to remain there beyond this season heightened through August as the Mets began playing better. That led to him having a discussion with his wife and three daughters when they visited and spent time at Citi Field earlier this month about the possibility of remaining in the role. From there, he called Stearns to let him know he wanted to be a candidate for the permanent job.
"We were just sharing what our passion was and I was eager for the opportunity should it arise," Green said. "And I'm grateful that it did."
Green spent parts of four seasons with two teams -- the Arizona Diamondbacks and Mets -- as a player before turning to coaching. He received his first big league managerial job with the San Diego Padres in 2016 and held the post for nearly four years, going 274-366 before he was fired near the end of the 2019 season. He then spent four years as the Chicago Cubs' bench coach before joining the Mets' organization in November 2023.