Luis Rojas is out after two seasons as manager of the New York Mets.
On Monday, the club declined his 2022 contract option but offered Rojas “the opportunity to remain in the organization in a yet to be determined capacity.”
Decisions regarding the remaining coaching staff will be made over the next several days, the team said.
The Mets collapsed down the stretch and finished in third place in the National League East with a 77-85 record this season. They were 26-34 in his first season as skipper during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
“The entire Mets organization is grateful for the dedication and devotion that Luis has exhibited over the last two seasons as manager,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a news release. “He has shown a great commitment to the Mets over many years in multiple capacities. These decisions are never easy, but we feel a change is needed at this time.”
Rojas, 40, was promoted from his position as the Mets’ quality control coach on Jan. 22, 2020. He had previously managed various minor league affiliates for the franchise from 2011-18.
“I want to share such heartfelt gratitude to so many in the Mets organization for not only the last two seasons as manager, but for the last 16 years in a variety of roles,” Rojas said in the statement. “In each and every position I held, striving for excellence was our daily mission.
“I will always hold the relationships and friendships, developed over the years, dear to my heart, and am forever grateful to have been able to wear the Mets uniform for so long. We live in a results-oriented business, and am deeply disappointed for our staff and fans that we didn’t reach our goals this season.”
The Mets were in first place in the NL East for most of May and all of June and July. A 1-7 start to the month of August knocked them out of the lead. New York went 21-37 from Aug. 1 through Sunday’s season-ending, 5-0 loss at the division champion Atlanta Braves.
New York missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
–Field Level Media