During a time of significant changes, the Mets' new front office is leaning toward keeping a familiar face around.
Team president Sandy Alderson wouldn't fully commit to bringing back manager Luis Rojas for a second season, he announced during Tuesday's introductory press conference for himself and new owner Steve Cohen. But Alderson said "it's very likely" Rojas will get another chance.
"My expectation is he will be managing the Mets (next year)," said. Alderson, who did hedge slightly, saying the door was "ajar" to other possibilities out of respect for the process of creating a new baseball operations department.
Rojas, 39, led the Mets to a 26-34 record in his rookie season at the helm. The pandemic-shortened 60-game season presented plenty of challenges around the league, and Rojas' Mets were no exception.
The Dominican-born manager is the son of All-Star outfielder and manager Felipe Alou. After his last-minute hiring in January, he navigated a wild first season that included two positive COVID-19 results within the organization and an ever-changing and ineffective starting rotation.
Rojas has spent 15 years in the Mets organization; before being promoted to manager he was most recently the team's quality-control coach in 2019.
Alderson said he spoke to Rojas as recently as Monday. They've previously crossed paths when Alderson was the Mets GM from 2010-18 and Rojas was a coach in the minors.
"I know Luis from my years with the Mets before," Alderson said. "He's a very capable and fine individual, and I like him a lot."
