The Mets totally wanted Carlos Mendoza as manager, he was obviously their first choice, and former Wilpons Intern David Stearns was not at all outplayed by Craig Counsell.
Anyway, first time managers rarely work out in the big leagues, and after a first time manager fails, you’re going to want a veteran manager to manage in 2026, which is totally not obviously John Gibbons. He’s just the new bench coach.
METS ANNOUNCE 2024 COACHING STAFF
FLUSHING, N.Y., December 4, 2023 – The New York Mets today announced their complete 2024 coaching staff under Manager Carlos Mendoza. John Gibbons joins the organization as the team’s manager in waiting bench coach, Antoan Richardson is the new first base coach, José Rosado will coach the bullpen and Mike Sarbaugh will be the third base coach.
Danny Barnes returns as the club’s major league strategy coach and Jeremy Barnes will again serve as hitting coach. Eric Chavez, who was the team’s bench coach in 2023, will return to his previous role as a hitting coach, a position he held in 2022 with the Mets. Jeremy Hefner remains on the staff for his fifth season as pitching coach and Glenn Sherlock is back for his second campaign as the Mets catching coach.
John Gibbons, 61, has 11 years of major league managerial experience, all of which came in two stints with the Toronto Blue Jays (2004-08, 2013-18). Under his leadership, the Blue Jays won the 2015 American League East title and made back-to-back ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. He was named interim manager on August 8, 2004, then had his interim tag removed following the 2004 season. Gibbons compiled a 793-789 record in his 11 years at the helm in Toronto. Before managing, Gibbons also served as a bullpen catcher (2002) and first base coach (2002-04) for the Jays. Between his two tours as Blue Jays manager, he served as the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals (2009-2011) and managed the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League in the San Diego Padres organization. The Great Falls, Montana native began his coaching career with the Mets organization in 1991 as a roving instructor and held that position until being named a coach for Single-A Capital City in 1994. From there, Gibbons managed for the organization at all four levels from 1995-2001 and compiled a record of 482-420 (.534). He was originally selected in the first round (24th overall) by the Mets in the 1980 First-Year Player Draft and appeared in 17 career major league games with the club, including eight games for the 1986 Mets.
Antoan Richardson, 40, joins the Mets staff as the first base coach after serving in the same role for the San Francisco Giants from 2020-2023. With the Giants, the Bahamas native also oversaw baserunning and outfield instruction. He joined the San Francisco organization in 2019 as the minor league field coordinator. Prior to his coaching career, Richardson played professionally from 2005-2016 in a career that spanned 12 seasons and included 22 games at the major league level (nine with the Braves in 2011 and 13 with the Yankees in 2014).
José Rosado, 49, begins his first season with the Mets as bullpen coach. The Jersey City, New Jersey native spent the last three seasons as the pitching coach for the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization. Prior to coaching in the KBO, Rosado was a minor league pitching coach in the New York Yankees organization from 2011-2020. In 2011, Rosado worked under Mendoza with the Gulf Coast League Yankees. Rosado has served as the pitching coach for Team Puerto Rico in the last three World Baseball Classics and served in the same role for the World Team in the 2015 All-Star Futures Game. Rosado played in five major league seasons (1996-2000) for the Kansas City Royals and was a two-time American League All-Star (1997, 1999) after being selected by the club in the 12th round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.
Mike Sarbaugh, 56, joins the Mets coaching staff from Cleveland, where he coached and managed at various levels in the organization since 1995. The Lancaster, PA native was Cleveland’s third base coach for the last 10 seasons. He also managed in the minor leagues for nine years (2004-13), including stints at the helm for Single-A Mahoning Valley (2004), Single-A Lake County (2005), Single-A Kinston (2006-07), Double-A Akron (2008-09) and Triple-A Columbus (2010-12) before being promoted to the major league coaching staff as the first base coach in 2013. Sarbaugh led the Columbus Clippers to International League and Triple-A Championships in back-to-back seasons from 2010-11. He led his teams to winning records in all nine seasons managing Cleveland minor league affiliates, tallied five league titles and qualified for the postseason seven times. He holds a 697-511 (.577) record as a minor league manager.
