New York Mets: Luis Rojas “confident” that he will return as manager for next season

The overall excellence of the Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies slow, but steady improvement, a late surge (and sweep) by the Washington Nationals and a step forward by the Miami Marlins’ youngster left the New York Mets, a popular sleeper candidate early in the season to make a deep postseason run, without playoffs and in the last place of the NL East division.

The offense was the only part of the machine that functioned properly, and the production wasn’t always timely. The rest was a complete disappointment: suspect starting pitching, erratic relief pitching, injuries, bad luck, opt-outs… any obstacle in the way was there for the New York Mets.

The 26-34 final record was a disappointing ending to a forgettable season in which they lost one of their best pitchers, Noah Syndergaard, from the very beginning. The Mets had to scramble the free agent market and the minor leagues (well, the taxi squad) to look for solutions in the pitching department. They had to convert not one, but two relievers into starters (Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman) due to an injury crisis.

Mets’ skipper already planning for 2021

Yet manager Luis Rojas, who was leading the Mets in his debut as a major league skipper, expressed confidence that he will be given another opportunity to show that he can do a better job under different circumstances.

“I’m going into the offseason confident that I’m going to be the manager of the team next year,” Rojas said according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

“We’re all aware that we’re in a transition right now,” Rojas said. “I had a great relationship with our ownership, being in this organization for 15 years. Now as the manager, knowing that we’re in a transition, I can’t wait for the process to unfold and just to engage in the relationship with whatever happens. My mindset right now is I’m the manager, and I’m thinking of the team for 2021. I’m thinking of the things we can be better at.”

For Rojas to return, new Mets’ owner Steve Cohen and his projected team president Sandy Alderson would have to give their blessing.