Albert Pujols has indicated he could see himself managing the orange and blue.
Pujols told MLB Network that he would be interested in managing the Amazin’s, saying that owner Steve Cohen wants to win.
“I think you have an owner that wants to win and wants to spend, that’s huge,” Pujols said in the wake of the Friday firing of Carlos Mendoza. “You have the talent in the field, although this year hasn’t been great for them.”
Pujols added that the Mets’ disappointing record is due to injuries severely impacting the Mets’ roster to start the season.
“When they built this club in the offseason and into Spring Training, they never thought they would have so many injuries like this,” he said. “You look at that record and say ‘Woah, why are they playing so poorly?’ And it’s because the guys that they brought in haven’t been healthy in the field.
“When you look at the talent they have, they have some good pieces right there.”
“No matter where it is, I’m going to bring in my experience learning from great managers in the past and try my best to build a great relationship with the players,” Pujols added. “Because at the end of the day, I believe that communication is huge with your players.”
Pujols, who was the skipper of the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic, has shown interest in managing an MLB ballclub and was rumored to be in the running for the Angels’ job this season before that eventually fell through.
Juan Soto, who played under Pujols during the WBC in March, told reporters that he believed the former 11-time All-Star was a great team leader.
“It’s truly incredible having a legend like Albert in the clubhouse, leading every single one of us as our manager,” Juan Soto told reporters in Spanish, according to ESPN. “He’s been in our shoes and truly understands how we feel, how the pieces move on the field, every swing we take, every decision we make.
“He’s right there with us through it all, and that makes it something truly special and beautiful.”
