4 Managers On Hot Seat Next Up On the Firing Line

Now that the first manager has bit the dust in the 2026 season (yes, already!), others must start to be looking over their shoulders.

Sure, it seems early, less than a month into the season, but the Boston Red Sox expected more, and Alex Cora is finished at Fenway.

With that, let's take a look at the next four managers on the hot seat:

Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets

Yes, the Red Sox have been underperforming this season, but let's face it, no team has had more bad press than the Mets in 2026, highlighted by their disastrous 12-game losing streak. That was the longest such skid for the franchise since 2002. They're only a half-game out of the worst record in baseball.

At 9-17, they're already 9.0 games out of first in the NL East and things will need to get better quickly, or Mendoza could be next on the firing line.

Rob Thomson, Philadelphia Phillies

The only team that comes into Sunday with a worse record than the Mets, is the Phillies. A shocking development, to be sure. Like New York, the Phils have a huge payroll, and some big stars, but their 9-18 start has Thomson squarely in the crosshairs. Cora, now looking for work, has already been linked to Philly, as he has a close relationship with team president Dave Dombrowski.

Joe Espada, Houston Astros

The Astros certainly can't match the payrolls of the Mets or Phillies, but their expectations over the years certainly do. A perennial top of the division team in the AL West, the Stros are currently in last place at 10-18, with the worst record in the AL. Luckily, no one is running away with the division, so Espada can save his job if he quickly turns things around.

Matt Quataro, Kansas City Royals

The AL Central is certainly the weakest division in baseball, but the Royals are bringing up the rear at 10-17, even behind the White Sox. It's been a rough start, with stars like Bobby Witt Jr. (zero homers) and Vinnie Pasquantino (.155 avg) off to very slow Aprils. Expectations were much higher in KC this year, so Quataro needs to wake them up to save his job.