Former Cubs skipper is hoping the Mets give him a shot at managing again

It's been nearly three years since Jed Hoyer shocked the baseball world, dismissing David Ross and hiring Craig Counsell, upsetting the managerial apple cart in the process. Right before firing Ross, Hoyer had given him a strong vote of confidence, saying, “We have real organizational momentum; I think it’s really important to continue to build on that. Obviously Rossy’s a big part of that."

Just like that, Counsell was in and Ross was out - and that's where he's remained since, still looking for a chance to manage at the big-league level. He had at least one opportunity to get back in the dugout as a bench coach, but passed on that chance with the Yankees. Now, though, New York is back on the brain - this time, with the Mets' managerial vacancy looming large at season's end.

“I’ve gotten bench coach offers, but managing would be fun,’’ Ross said. “I hope I get another chance to at least interview. I was in a big market with no experience and I think that served me well. And just having been in the dugout as a manager already, there’s history of guys doing well the second time around: [Terry] Francona, [Bobby] Cox, [Bruce] Bochy, [Joe] Torre. You learn a lot the first time you do it and there are things you do differently.”

The man currently managing the Mets, Andy Green, served as Ross' bench coach during his four years as Cubs manager. Green is expected to return to the front office after the season ends, but the connection there could open the door for Ross to at least get a shot at the gig.

Chicago set off this chain of events last week with a four-game sweep of the Mets at Citi Field, prompting David Stearns to dismiss manager Carlos Mendoza, annointing him as the scapegoat for the team's woeful 2026 performance (regardless of the fact that it was Stearns, not Mendoza, who assembled a deeply flawed roster).

David Ross would be walking into a powder keg with the Mets' job

I love Rossy. I want to see him back in baseball - and not just as a commentator on ESPN. Managerial gigs are, after all, among the most exclusive jobs in the game today, so if you're really dead-set on that role, you can't afford to be picky.

But the Mets' job comes with some glaring red flags. Stearns, who came to the Mets from Milwaukee, has failed to deliver. The idea was he'd be able to replicate the Brewers' model of success with unlimited financial resources. That hasn't come to fruition - not even close.

New York's roster has talent, sure, but pitching remains a huge problem and the position player mix feels forced, positionally speaking. That's not to say Ross couldn't help shape the team and get it to where it needs to be, but I think there's also a dramatically different environment in Queens than what he experienced in Chicago.

For much of his time with the Cubs, winning wasn't the expectation - and when it was, he probably got a longer leash than anyone else would have given his ties to the organization dating back to 2016. There's no mercy awaiting whoever lands the Mets' job - but that isn't stopping Ross from hoping for a call and a chance come this fall.

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