Buck Showalter, the 67-year-old manager of the New York Mets, revealed to reporters on Sunday that he will not be returning as skipper.
Showalter made the announcement before Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, bringing an end to his disappointing two-year tenure with the Mets.
The decision comes on the heels of a nightmare season for the Mets, who finished the season with a lackluster 74-87 record despite possessing the highest payroll in Major League Baseball.
Buck Showalter announced he will not return as Mets manager. pic.twitter.com/tjucewBdi6
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 1, 2023
In 2022, Showalter guided the Mets to an impressive 101-61 record, earning him the title of National League Manager of the Year. The team secured the top wild-card spot but ultimately fell to the San Diego Padres in a three-game series during the wild-card round.
The departure of Showalter now paves the way for the Mets anticipated hire of David Stearns as president of baseball operations, a position that will be placed above the current general manager, Billy Eppler.
This change in leadership allows Stearns to handpick the next manager for the team.
Mets owner Steve Cohen commented on the transition, saying: “We are heading in a new direction, with a new President of Baseball Operations, and we let Buck know we’ll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately.”
“Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our team, including leading us to a 101-win season and postseason berth last year. The commitment and heart that Buck brings to the game will be felt by our organization for years to come. We wish Buck all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
Showalter, a seasoned manager with a storied career, earned a unique distinction last year as he became the first individual to be named Manager of the Year four times with four different teams.
His previous Manager of the Year awards came with the New York Yankees in 1994, the Texas Rangers in 2004, and the Baltimore Orioles in 2014. He now joins the ranks of Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa as one of only three four-time winners of the prestigious award in baseball history.
Reflecting on his time with the Mets, Showalter expressed his gratitude, saying: “I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team. I’m proud of what the Mets did. We won close to 180 games in two years. Especially last year, as much fun as I’ve ever had in the game. It reminded me of why I always loved this kind of work.”
Buck Showalter announces that he will not be returning next year and has a message for Mets fans:
"I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team and I'm proud of what the Mets did… I wish things could've gone better this season because Mets fans deserve that" pic.twitter.com/0cxRnauerZ
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 1, 2023
As the Mets embark on a new era under the leadership of Stearns, their search for a new manager will undoubtedly be interesting to follow.
It clearly didn’t work out with the Mets – But where do you rank Showalter among the top managers of this generation?