Carlos Mendoza Declines Mariners Interest for Phillies Coaching Role
Former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has accepted a coaching position with the Philadelphia Phillies after withdrawing his candidacy for the Seattle Mariners' managerial vacancy.
Carlos Mendoza, recently dismissed as manager of the New York Mets, has opted to join the Philadelphia Phillies as their third base and infield coach. This decision came after Mendoza had been considered for the Seattle Mariners' managerial opening.
The Mariners, who parted ways with Dan Wilson at the end of the season, are currently seeking a new manager. Mendoza, 46, previously spent over a decade with the Yankees in various coaching capacities before taking the helm for the Mets.
Mendoza's tenure with the Mets saw a surprising National League Championship Series appearance in 2024. However, the team experienced a significant downturn in 2025, ultimately missing the playoffs. A combination of injuries and a prolonged losing streak in April contributed to Mendoza's dismissal in late June and the subsequent hiring of Andy Green.
During his two-and-a-half seasons as Mets manager, Mendoza's record was 206-199. He now joins a revamped Phillies coaching staff following their early postseason exit. Despite retaining Don Mattingly as manager, the Phillies have made changes, including parting ways with hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson.
Mendoza will face the challenge of improving the Phillies' defense, which ranked seventh-worst in the league in fielding run value in 2026, according to Baseball Savant. This includes working with shortstop Trea Turner, who received a "mandatory" warning from team president Dave Dombrowski regarding his defensive performance. Dombrowski indicated that Mendoza would be responsible for working with Turner on his defense.