2026 NL East Rankings: Manager
It’s tricky to rank managers. In his two years with the New York Mets, Carlos Mendoza‘s teams have overachieved and underachieved.
I believe it’s important for Mendoza’s sake that the Mets get off to a good start. The Mets firing/not retaining so much of his coaching staff after the 2025 debacle sends a signal that he could be next. Here’s hoping Mendoza finds the managerial powers that he used to finish 2024 and start 2025.
To the rankings of the National League East as a whole:
No. 5, Blake Butera, Nationals
The rookie skipper is 33 years old and the youngest MLB manager since the Twins hired Frank Quilici in 1972. If you don’t remember how that turned out, Quilici went 280-287-1 over four years and was fired after the 1975 season.
Butera, like James Wood and CJ Abrams, could be a budding star. During four seasons managing in the Rays organization, his teams went 258-144. He has the endorsement of Mike Piazza, who managed Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and counted on Butera as his bench coach.
“I think it’s a great hire and I’m so happy for him,” Piazza told MLB Network’s Jon Morosi when Butera was hired on Oct. 30. “He is (a) very loyal, diligent, efficient and dedicated baseball man. He commands respect with his knowledge and demeanor. He will always strive to put his players in a position to succeed. It was a pleasure to work with him.”
No. 4 – Walt Weiss, Braves
Weiss, 62, replaces Brian Snitker after serving as his bench coach since 2018. He managed the Rockies to a 283-365 record from 2013-2016, never finishing above .500. The Suffern (N.Y.) High School product was the 1988 AL Rookie of the Year for Oakland and played 14 years at shortstop, his final three with the Braves. Snitker, 70, whose contract ran out, will be a Braves senior advisor.
No. 3 Clayton McCullough, Marlins
McCullough, 46, impressed in his rookie year, guiding Miami to a 79-83 mark after the oddsmakers set the preseason over/under at 63.5. He was fifth in NL Manager of the Year voting. It will be interesting to see how he does with expectations a little higher this year. The Marlins have a nice core of young players.
No. 2 – Carlos Mendoza, Mets
On balance, Mendoza, 46, is a good manager who exudes a steadying presence. He shakes up the batting order as players go hot and cold. He pushed the right buttons in 2024, though it may annoyingly stick in fans’ heads that he started a cold J.D. Martinez in the playoffs over a hot Jesse Winker.
As for 2025, you cannot decisively blame Mendoza for Sean Manaea‘s poor season, Mark Vientos‘ regression or what happened to Kodai Senga and David Peterson in the second half. Though, complaints on how he sometimes managed the bullpen with an eye on the next game, and in some cases ended up sacrificing the game at hand.
No. 1 – Rob Thomson, Phillies
He is the most accomplished manager in the division with three consecutive 90-plus win seasons and a National League pennant. Yet Thomson, 62, is not universally loved in Philadelphia.
“He made several tactical decisions during the games, most of which backfired spectacularly and the immediate desire to change things up came to the forefront,” Ethan Witte wrote on The Good Phight after it was reported that Thomson would return for 2026. “Sorry to disappoint.”
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