Reyes Throws Support Behind Beltran for Mets Manager Gig

When a team stumbles out of the gate with a 34-47 record, fingers get pointed everywhere. The New York Mets just learned that lesson the hard way, parting ways with manager Carlos Mendoza after less than half a season. But here’s where it gets interesting: Jose Reyes, the four-time All-Star who spent years in a Mets uniform, doesn’t think it’s all Mendoza’s fault—and he’s got a name in mind for who should take over.

Enter Carlos Beltran. The Hall of Famer spent seven seasons with the Mets (2005-11) and has quietly been working behind the scenes as a Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. Reyes caught up with us this week and made it clear: Beltran’s his guy. Sure, interim manager Andy Green gets a chance to work some magic first, and sure, Hall of Famer Albert Pujols apparently wants the job too. But Reyes sees something special in Beltran—a former Met who knows the organization, the city, and what it takes to turn things around.

The timing couldn’t be more serendipitous. Beltran’s having his number 15 retired by the team this season while simultaneously being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Mets wouldn’t even need to make an outside call. Their guy is already in the building, part of the front office structure, and carrying the kind of credibility that only comes from having worn the uniform and succeeded in the spotlight. It’s the kind of homecoming move that could either revitalize a franchise or feel like a nostalgic reach—but Reyes clearly believes it’s the former.

The real question hanging over all this: can Andy Green right the ship fast enough to make the interim tag permanent, or is the Mets organization already thinking about what comes next? With a payroll that’s supposed to be championship-caliber, the expectations are astronomical, and Reyes is right that something had to give. Whether that something ends up being Beltran calling the shots remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain—the Mets aren’t short on names being floated around.