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Mets Hire Luis Rojas As Manager

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TODAY: The Mets have officially announced the hiring.  Rojas will be introduced at a press conference on Friday.

JANUARY 22, 1:46pm: Rojas will receive a two year deal in addition to multiple club options, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.

11:53am: The Mets have moved swiftly in the wake of the departure of manager Carlos Beltran. Their 2020 club will be helmed by Luis Rojas, according to multiple reporters including Mike Puma of the New York Post (via Twitter) and Tim Britton of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Rojas and the Mets are said to be finalizing a multi-year contract. The 38-year-old had interviewed for the open managerial position before it went to Beltran, leaving Rojas to reprise his role as quality control coach. But when Beltran stepped out the door due to his role in the Astros cheating scandal, the Mets turned back to Rojas.

Indications are that Rojas will oversee the same coaching staff that had expected to serve under Beltran. Obviously there’ll be at least one new hire as well, to account for the promotion.

It’s a bit opportunity for Rojas, who’ll take over for former manager Mickey Callaway after just one year on an MLB staff. Rojas came up through the Mets farm system as a coach and manager but had only overseen big leaguers during his time managing Dominican Winter League outfits.

Beyond his own experience, Rojas comes from a royal lineage. He’s the son of legendary skipper Felipe Alou and half-brother of MLB stalwart Moises Alou. MLB.com’s Nathalie Alonso detailed Rojas’s rise and managerial future in an article last summer.

This is obviously not how anyone envisioned Rojas moving into the manager’s seat, but he’ll need to hit the ground running. Camp opens in just three weeks and Rojas inherits a roster that carries win-now expectations after two-straight disappointing campaigns. The stakes are lofty for all involved, including GM Brodie Van Wagenen and his front office, with an ownership change on the horizon.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Comments

    • Cano has spoken highly of him – I think before last year they crossed paths in DR. Good coach – was going to be manager someday this will be a good chance for him. Great bloodline as he is Felipe Alou’s kid

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      • And Moises Alou brother.

        FYI – The family name is Rojas, but his father, brother and uncles used Alou, the surname of Luis Rojas’ paternal grandmother.

        17

        • Very interesting. Thank you for posting something useful on this site. It’s refreshing for a change.

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        • If he is anywhere near Felipe’s personality and class, this is a good move for the Mets. Felipe’s work in Montreal is legendary.

          6

        • Art, if you feel nothing useful is normally posted, why read? Other than the bigotry and occasional ad messages, the site is fun even during lull times.

        • I’ll assume you’re replying to me? In which case, I read in hopes of further educating myself and to find what now has become hidden nuggets of information and excitement. But it takes a while to swift through the hate and negativity. Call it trying to find the best of a declining populous of commentators.

        • And Marisol Alou’s cousin.

          FYI – It should be remembered that the mujeres played a major role in the Rojas/Alou family tree. Marisol was widely considered to be a major influence on the managerial accumen, and style, of Luis Rojas. Good Luck Skipper!

      • Man he’s gonna pour deer urine all over the dugout isn’t he

        4

    • Todd, what do you mean, it’s a “bit” opportunity … is the Mets job not that big?

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        • Probably as the Mets simply haven’t spent wisely in recent times. Neither has Boston although championships allows a team to take more risks.

      • Considering that, usually when someone gets fired by the Mets, they can’t get another job again, it’s a “bit” job.

        1

    • I’m not surprised. Without personal prejudice, dating back to the 90’s the Wilpons have always been active in the Latino market. Take a glance at the roster in ’09 specifically them moving forward. Cespedes? etc. just saying, perhaps it’s broken and it’s time to move in a different direction….

      • Perhaps they are thinking the demographic trends make the Latino market the future of baseball. You’re right, though, team composition has steadily increased. Combination of fewer Americans playing baseball and the increased emphasis on Latino scouting.

    • stop. All the players know him and he is highly regarded. Be happy we didnt hire Baker or Perez. This is good. Mets fans are always negative.

      16

      • Highly regarded by whom? The Mets? Why just last November they hired Carlos Beltran.

        With all the managerial openings how many teams even interviewed Rojas. ZERO! So highly regarded!

        • Before responding again, stop and ask yourself — will spreading my brash, uninformed opinion make this comment section better? If not, then just go into a janitor’s closet, close the door behind you and say your comment to yourself if you like hearing yourself talk so much.

          You clearly have no clue who Rojas is, and therefore have no basis on which to judge him. Give him a chance. Nobody’s impressed with your cynicism.

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        • Well said @Dan

          Metsie1 obviously only wanted a “population na.e” a a the new manager.

          1

        • @Dan: as a Mets fan, thank you for shutting down a cynical, negative commenter. Good job. Mets fans should be happy they’re giving a solid, well-respected guy a big chance here. You can’t find a bad word said about Rojas.

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    • He was interviewed in Novermber. He is highly respected in the baseball world.

      2

    • He was interviewed in November. He is highly respected in the baseball world.

    • Not a joke hire dude. He will surprise you. Give the man a chance. He’ll be better than Beltran would have been.

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    • When Girardi was hired by the Yankees – was he experienced as an MLB manager?
      When Boone was hired by the Yankees – was he experienced as an MLB manager?
      When Bobby Cox was hired by the Braves – was he experienced as an MLB manager?

      I can keep going if you’d like…

      2

    • I love seeing all these sort of posts. Back when he was hired by the Reds, Sparky Anderson, was nearly fun out of town…until he started winning.

      Rojas May or may not succeed but he is knowledgeable of the game, has done some work gaining experience outside of MLB and certainly he has learned a thing or two from his father.

      What retread would be a better candidate?

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  3. The link went to a 19 year old minors guy. I strongly doubt he’s the Mets manager

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  6. Your Luis Rojas link is wrong. clicked on it to see his MLB history and the first thing I noticed is that he’s only 20 years old…

  7. Funny. The link for Luis Rojas on MLBTR is for a 19 year old Phillie prospect.
    Take 30 seconds and get it right MLBTR!

      • Then they need to unautomate it because they get it wrong half of the time. Linking the RIGHT website isn’t that much of a time vortex that doing it manually would cause a huge inconvenience.

    • Or maybe you’re just upset that the Mets didn’t bring back Bobby V? /j

      1

      • Based on what? You know nothing about him. Might be because there is nothing to know. Experience, what experience?

        • Thanks, Johnny GM. Maybe the Mets need to hire you, moron. …such an expert on everything Mets.

          1

    • Alonso – “Loved having Luis in 17 and 18 as my manager”
      Stroman – “LUIS ROJAS. Love love love. ”

      In the minors, he coached – Conforto, McNeil, Rosario, Alonso, Dom Smith,

      3

      • Those tweets and comments are why I feel good about Rojas. He has a reputation as a player’s manager, he is into advance statistics, and he already knows quite a few of the regular guys and helped develop them in the minors. I’d guess probably 1/3 of the roster knows him and were coached by him. He has been around baseball his entire life and has managed at multiple levels in the minors during his 14 years with the Mets organization.

        He sure as heck beats a re-tread curmudgeon like Showalter or Baker.

        1

        • We’re on the same page. New blood is good, especially from such a great baseball lineage.

    • Links in the comments on the app never work for me but thanks for trying!

  17. again.. Mets went the cheaper inexperienced route.. it’s going to be a disaster

  21. Been with organization for 14 years. Managed I believe 8 of thise years in the minors. Has managed 12 of the players on the roster already. Yes he is an Alou. Was already on coaching staff. Knows whats going on. For those of you who are asking who he is. Good hire

    3

    • Thanks Blue for actually posting something relevant and informative for those who haven’t heard of him. Dude is a well respected baseball lifer, will do well in Citi Field.

      1

  22. Give the guy a chance.Maddon,Weaver and Alston were career minor leaguers and they all won championships in MLB

    • Every HoF player was at first an unproven amateur with potential, but the scouts that signed them could spont unproven talent. Why would it be any different with a manager?

  24. The New York Mess. Last to fire, first to hire.

    Hope it works out.

    • Clearly you have no idea what you’re talking about. We were one of the last to hire. We were one of the last to fire…because we waited for the regular season to end.

      Hire dates:

      Maddon – Oct 16
      Ross – Oct 24
      Girardi – Oct 24
      Tingler – Oct 28
      Matheny – Oct 29
      Beltran – Nov 1
      Kapler – Nov 12
      Shelton – Nov 27

      Fire Dates:

      Bochy – announced prior to season
      Green – Sept 21 (fired before end of season)
      Yost – Sept 23 (fired before end of season)
      Hurdle – Sept 29 (fired last day of season)
      Maddon – Sept 29 (fired last day of season)
      Ausmus – Sept 30
      Callaway – Oct 3
      Kapler – Oct 10

      1

  25. Larry Walker should not be in the hall of fame. He batted .381 at Coors Canaveral and .280 everywhere else. His away numbers are good but not HOF worthy. But I know the nerdy writers who vote have a hard on for him. It is basically a bunch of chicks voting for their Prom Queen.

    And I really want the name of the writer who thought Jeter was not a HOF’er.

    2

    • Wrong article. Also, Walker posted an OPS+ of 141. Which is ballpark neutral regardless of where you play. Every batting measurement that takes away ballpark advantages and disadvantages says he was an elite hitter.

      He swatted 383 HRs, 230 stolen bases. Very few guys join 300 Hrs 200 stolen base club plus he played great defense. He was an all around complete player and deserves to be in the hall.

      5

    • Vin — No one wants to hear about your hard-ons for prom queens.

    • Sooo…. that’s 2 McChickens and a large fry, right? Sir?

    • Well, I guess every player whoever had better numbers at home should be taken out of the Hall. Fenway and a few other stadiums have built in advantages that good players learn to exploit, so put an asterisk next to all those names.

      While we are at it, remove every player who played against the Rockies. Then let’s remove every pitcher who had an advantage in their home stadium. Heck, let’s remove every player who played on AstroTurf or primarily day games. Next on the list would be defensive minded players like Ozzie Smith and players who benefited from having great players around them.

      Come on, man. The criteria often referenced is, “Was he one of the best of his generation at his position?” That answer is a resounding yes, regardless where he called home.

      How were his Montreal numbers? How about his defense, base running and clutch performance late in games? How many games did his team win? What were his common day analysis numbers like WAR?

      Walker is in the Hall and rightfully so.

    • Well Vin it seems to me there are plenty of HOF’ers who batted less that .280

  27. i dont know a whole lot about him, but i think they shouldve chosen this guy over Beltran all along.

  28. Mets made it perfectly clear they’d rather go cheap and young over and expensive, experienced manager. I don’t really see a major problem with this. Beltran was going to have the same learning curves that Rojas will have. So I think the 2020 Mets will be an interesting team to watch. They had a tremendous 2nd half, but Wheeler was a big part of that 2nd half and he went to a division rival. I see the Mets, Nats and Phils battling for a WC spot.

    • Wilpons rather go cheap? Where have I heard this before?

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  29. John Farrell would of been a better choice for an intermediate option.

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  31. Unexpected(?) Not really a “go for it all“ managerial decision. But on a side note, I find it funny and odd that the media is so reluctant to say Beltran was fired. They keep trying to use such soft words for his departure. Not sure why that stands out to me, it just does. Anyway, hopefully this pulls the Mets through and their team develops and comes together. Lord knows there have a good pitching staff and some real quality hitters.

    1

  32. Good for him. I would imagine he was involved in coordinating spring training schedules and minor league camp and should make for a fairly smooth transition.

    2

  33. Stepping down or “stepping out” still requires a security officer to monitor your clearing of personal property from your former work space, usually into a provided box or cart, and then escorting you to your vehicle or arranged transportation.

  34. Good choice. Has been prepping the plan for spring training so that will help a lot. Good experience and good family lines too

  35. Typical Mets disgrace. Team is built to win now – and that isn’t going to happen with this Rojas guy. Fact.

    Cohen cannot take control of this franchise fast enough.

    • You sold me at Fact !

      Next time just lead with that and skip the other 95% opinion !

    • Yeah. Guess He doesn’t have a Former manager of the year and others to advise him……
      Why not check his family lineage out before making your decision.

      I’ll bet Former Astros manager Hinch was a great one in your opinion . Big time cheater and saved Cole in seventh game to keep him fresh and left Harris out there to blow the series

      Sure better to give the job to buzzer man Beltran

      They corrected a wrong. Best manager for young upcoming team a young guy or old veteran. Beltran was a bad hire. They were lucky to escape from him. With this you get a young lifetime baseball man and a old guy to advise him. The old guy was manager of the year too.

      • Agree. I didn’t understand the Beltran hire and this seems much better.

  38. I wonder if this means Hensley Muelens is now the favorite to take the helm in Boston.

  39. Read the Nathalie Alonso article. Looks like a popular choice with baseball people, but he is still pretty much a zero experience manager. More than Beltran and Meulens, though.

    His lineage and contacts make him a manager as much as Chelsea Clinton’s make her a solid presidential candidate. His family got him the opportunities, now let’s see what he does with it.

    I’m hoping the empty coaching position goes to a former big league manager like Baker, someone to guide him with actual experience.

  40. Go get this guy Starlin Marte’ Niw, Brady! Need a splash to wash the Beltran taste out of the mouth…

    • Jeff? Jeff Wilpon, is that you? With the name weasel, I’m thinking yes.

  41. “It’s a bit opportunity for Rojas”

    Couldn’t disagree more, I think it’s a big opportunity for him.

  42. they are killing me!!!!

    nope, no showalter or experienced coach! nice job, idiots!

  43. You can’t please everyone. You Met fans wanted a ” name”. Give this guy a chance. If he’s from the Alou family, I think it’s a excellent hire.

    1

  44. You can’t please everyone. You Met fans wanted a ” name”. Give this guy a chance. If he’s from the Alou family, I think it’s a excellent hire.

  45. You can’t please everyone. You Met fans wanted a ” name”. Give this guy a chance. If he’s from the Alou family, I think it’s a excellent hire.

  46. He’s a big believer in no batting gloves. Only urine soaked hands for grip.

  47. Did you read his father’s book? Turns out his father seems to be a racist, and before reading his book I was a fan of his. Would not have bought the book knowing what I learned.

  49. A 2 year deal screams no confidence. He’s nothing more than lame duck manager and will be gone after 1 season.

    • I think it’s fine. The article says that there are team options built in, so if he does well he’s covered. I never understood the idea of giving first-time managers long term contracts. because it ends up costing you if things don’t work out. You’re giving the guy a chance to prove himself and he should be happy to get a two year deal. I could see your point if it was a one year deal with options.

  51. Since they are determined to go with less experience, this doesn’t seem too bad. Better than Beltran!

  52. Terrible choice. Eduardo Perez would have been a much better manager.

    • Eduardo Perez? Wow, you really think low of Rojas. Perez coached here in Miami. He’d lead MLB All Star team to a losing record in t-ball against 4-year olds.

      Daddy’s name has been good for his life.

      1

      • That family is baseball royalty. As I said in an earlier post, Felipe’s work in Montreal is legendary. Good baseball blood and a great hire for the Metropolitans.

        2

  53. So, now that the over/under bets on Beltran went to me and all of the other under picks, what is the over/under on Rojas?

    June 1st, Mets fans start calling for his head with Brody’s and for the Wilpons to sell the team. And this will start with the posters who are saying this is a good hire.

    Oh yeah, and the highly informed geniuses asking for Backman.

    • Worry about your terrible team and leave the legitimate teams to see who can win the division

      3

    • Hey, MarlinsFanBase – former Expos fan here who hung around the Nationals until Loria left. Now, I’m a Marlins guy and look forward to a homegrown powerhouse.

  55. From the MLB.com article that was linked, it seems like Rojas should have been named the manager over Beltran in the first place. He has been in the Mets organization for 14 years with varying levels of responsibility, he has previous experience as a manager from the minor leagues where he coached many of the current Mets players and has been with the major league club for at least a couple years. The guy has been around the game his entire life since his father and brother played professionally and his father was a manager. Seems like a solid resume.

    3

    • You’re right on. Apparently most of the people here do not realize that his father, brother, and uncles have many decades experience as players and coach/manager. This is 2020. His dads family was playing ball in the 1960’s or before. This man grew up in a baseball family similar to the Mannings of football. He must know the game. There are plenty of cr@p managers around. Why not give him a shot. He has the pedigree. Family in mlb for over 60 years.

    • And save every paycheck because when managers get fired by the Mets, they usually don’t get another chance anywhere else afterward.

      1

      • I’m thinking the Mets, regardless of who is manager, will have a much better record over the next decade than the Marlins, along with more post season games, more all stars, more fans through the gate, more contracts awarded to home grown players older than 27, more, well, success.

        How are those Yelich, Ozuna, Stanton and Realmuto guys doing compared to all the “talent” they received in return? Let’s compare wins and losses, post season appearances, seasonal awards and tv ratings…go ahead, I’ll wait over here while you gather your research for rebuttal. (Queue the Jeopardy theme music.)

        1

        • This is perfect. I have some marlins fan friends who think I’m 2-3 years they’ll be the Astros of 2017 with a winning future of 7-10 years… they are clueless and delusional

        • Marlins are getting better tho . In five years that Stanton trade is going to look like gold

  57. I think it’s pretty sad that there are more comments related to typos, grammar, punctuation, bad links and irrelevant responses than actual discussion.

    Is there a way to block certain posters?

    2

  59. What exactly does a baseball quality control coach do? Make sure the bats are properly pine tarred and the balls are properly rubbed down? I can’t imagine

  61. BTW here is one negative comment from me (since I like the signing) — they should push the press conference out to Monday. The Eli Manning retirement PC is also Friday and will get all of the coverage. I see from, their email that the Mets PC is at 3pm so I assume Eli is in the morning.

    • Yeah the Eli conference is supposed to end by noon. This actually was a topic on sports talk radio in New York today. Someone suggested the Mets scheduled it this way on purpose – to take attention away from the negative impression the team may be giving off by hiring their second choice manager. I say that’s bull.

  62. Luis Rojas record as a minor league manager from 2011 through 2018:

    8th, 6, 4, 2, 7, 5, 2, and 9th.

    • The Mets minor league system hasn’t exactly been overflowing with talent.

  63. @misterbill And yet, it was the 2011-2015 teams that fed the 2015 and 2016 teams, and the 2011-2018 teams that fed the 2019 team.

    1

  64. Rojas is such a splendid pick that the Mets FO didn’t seriously consider him during the first go-round.

    What happened was that Beltran was a consensus pick, and the genius troika heading the Mets were so far apart on a second choice that they landed on the guy who never finished first in his league in eight seasons of managing, and who got the sideways ‘promotion’ to ‘quality control coach’ in 2019.

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