NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltrán wouldn’t rule out interviewing to become manager of the New York Mets, a job he left before he ran a single game in 2020, but he didn’t sound all that interested.
His number 15 was retired by the team Saturday before its next-to-last home game of a disappointing season in which Carlos Mendoza was fired on June 26 as the high-spending team skidded to a losing record.
“Being a manager in Major League Baseball is a huge commitment
— very huge commitment,” Beltrán said before the ceremony, in which he was also inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. “I’m not saying that I’m not willing to take that commitment but right now, at the position where I am today in life, I love to be a dad, I love to be a husband, I love to be involved in the Carlos Beltrán Academy in Puerto Rico.
“And being a manager, you would not be able to do that full-time,” Beltrán added with a laugh.
A nine-time All-Star, Beltrán was hired Mets’ manager on Nov. 1, 2019, but left 76 days later in the fallout from the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Beltrán was the only Astros player mentioned by name in Major League Baseball’s report that concluded Houston broke rules by using electronics to steal signs en route to the 2017 World Series title.
Beltrán is the 12th member of the Mets to have his number retired and the 38th person inducted into their Hall of Fame. He returned to the Mets in 2023 as a front office special assistantr.
“Right now, I love what I’m doing,” Beltrán said. “I believe that the opportunity the Mets are giving me to be part of the organization and be able to comment on the things I experienced as a baseball player — to hopefully continue to add value to the decisions that they’re making and bring perspective on how I see things.”
Mendoza was fired by president of baseball operations David Stearns on June 26 following a 34-47 start and the entered Saturday 36-37 under interim manager Andy Green, who wants to return to a front office role.
“Whatever step forward we do, I know it’s going to be for the benefit of the organization,” Beltrán said. “And being honest, I think Andy has done a good job. He has done an incredible job for the Mets.”
Elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in January, Beltran hit .280 with 149 homers, 559 RBIs and 100 stolen bases while winning three Gold Gloves in six-plus seasons for the Mets from 2005-11.
“I think my skin got thicker playing in this city, which is good,” Beltrán said. “Because of the moments that I experienced here, I’m better. I’m better in every aspect. I want to use those experiences to continue to share it with the next generation — share it with all the people that might be filling the same shoes that I filled.”
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