Mets Shake Up Coaching Staff: Chavez, Hefner Not Returning

The New York Mets are headed into a pivotal offseason after falling heartbreakingly short of a postseason berth. They missed out on the final day of the season.

In response, the organization has announced a sweeping overhaul of its coaching staff. This shake-up signals a new strategic direction heading into 2026.

Manager Carlos Mendoza remains at the helm for the last guaranteed year of his contract. Nearly every other core position on the coaching roster will see fresh faces.

The changes hit both the offensive and pitching departments. Key support roles will also look different, and honestly, these moves could really shake up the team’s performance and clubhouse culture next season.

Mets Take Bold Steps After Playoff Miss

The Mets’ decision to part ways with multiple coaches shows the front office wants to reset and rejuvenate the team’s support structure. Even after a season with strong offensive numbers, the leadership seems determined to find new voices and strategies to finally push this roster into the playoffs.

Changes in the Hitting Department

In a move that’ll surprise some fans, hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez won’t return in 2026. Barnes, 38, joined the team in 2022 and guided an offense that ranked fifth in MLB in wRC+ and ninth in runs per game.

Chavez, 47, previously served as bench coach before moving into a co-hitting coach role. Both exits leave big shoes to fill for whoever takes over hitting instruction next season.

Pitching Staff Restructure

On the pitching side, Jeremy Hefner, the team’s longest-tenured coach, will also move on. At 39, Hefner led a staff that managed a 3.96 ERA in 2025, despite significant injury setbacks.

He’d been credited with stabilizing the rotation and bullpen after years of inconsistency. Now, the Mets have to find someone who can keep things steady—or maybe even take them further.

Assistant and Bullpen Changes

Assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel and bullpen coach José Rosado have been given permission to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Their exits are part of the broader reconfiguration within the pitching department.

The Mets will need to select replacements who can complement both the new pitching coach and Mendoza’s approach to game management. That’s no small task, honestly.

Shifts in Game Management Roles

The changes extend to the bench and base coaching slots. Bench coach John Gibbons, 63, brought a wealth of managerial experience from his two stints with the Toronto Blue Jays.

His role will be handed over to new leadership in 2026. At third base, Mike Sarbaugh will exit, removing a key link in the Mets’ on-field communication chain during offensive innings.

Retirement of a Catching Authority

One change comes from retirement rather than a team decision. Longtime catching instructor Glenn Sherlock, 65, has decided to step away from the game.

Sherlock served the Mets for four years and was instrumental in shaping young catcher Francisco Alvarez into a rising star. His departure marks the end of an era for the team’s catcher development program.

Manager Carlos Mendoza’s Future

Amid all the upheaval, Carlos Mendoza remains as manager for the third and final guaranteed year of his contract. He’ll face the challenge of integrating a mostly new staff while trying to keep the clubhouse chemistry intact.

Leadership continuity at the managerial level might help steady the ship as a fresh group of coaches comes in to implement new philosophies. Still, it’s anyone’s guess how this all plays out—Mets fans know there are never any guarantees.

What This Means for the 2026 Season

Mets fans can see this overhaul as a pretty loud message from the front office. Incremental tweaks just aren’t cutting it anymore.

The team’s betting big on a revamped coaching staff to unlock the roster’s potential. Next year, the main goals look something like this:

The Mets have a tight window now to hire replacements who respect the past but can also push things forward. The 2025 season ended with a near miss, so these changes feel like an aggressive push to finally break through in 2026.

It’s all a bit of a gamble, honestly. Can Mendoza and his new crew really deliver? That’s the question hanging over the Mets as they head into their next campaign.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mets shake up coaching staff as Chavez, Hefner among coaches set to depart (sources)