Who will replace Rojas as manager for Mets?

The New York Mets have a big decision coming – maybe even several of them as the offseason begins.

You can cut ties with a manager, but what does it matter if the next person isn’t a better fit? The Mets have another shot at hiring a manager and must get it right because they need stability after a 77-win season that featured plenty of turmoil both on and off the field.

Who could they hire to replace Luis Rojas, whom they fired Oct. 4 after two seasons on the job? Let’s look at some names – some more experienced than others.

Ron Washington

Washington has seemingly continued waiting for another chance to manage. He is currently the Braves’ third base coach but managed the Rangers from 2007-14, winning two AL pennants.

The 69-year-old is also the experienced name the organization may desire.

Buck Showalter

Continuing the trend of experienced names, the 65-year-old Showalter has been out of managing since he last held the Orioles job in 2018. He would bring experience, but could he mesh with today’s players?

The Mets must answer questions like this.

Carlos Beltrán

Yeah, we have to mention him.

Beltrán probably deserves a chance to manage. After all, A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora – both part of the Houston coaching staff during the team’s cheating scandal – are now managing again. If they got second chances, why can’t Beltrán get a first?

That said, he has never managed before. He was a stud on the field, but he doesn’t have any real coaching experience.

Brad Ausmus

Ausmus, 52, managed four seasons in Detroit and another with the Angels. He has a 386-422 record as a manager, but the interesting part is what occurred not long ago.

Ausmus, who played for the Astros, was reportedly a candidate for their manager job that eventually went to Dusty Baker. He could be an intriguing mix of youth (age) and experience (two managerial jobs) if the Mets were to pursue him.

Joe Espada

Espada, Houston’s bench coach, has been in the running for several bigleague managerial jobs. He reportedly received multiple interviews for the Cubs’ gig in 2019 and interviewed with the Giants around the same time.

Espada knows New York because he spent three years on Joe Girardi’s coaching staff with the Yankees. He seems to be a riser in the industry.

The obvious counterpoint to all this is the same one for all first-time candidates for this position: Do the Mets really want to go that route again?