nypost
The New York Mets are making changes to their coaching staff for the second consecutive offseason, though this round of adjustments is less extensive than the previous year's overhaul. On Tuesday, the club revealed that Jeff Albert, who was in charge of major league hitting, and Danny Barnes, the quality assurance coach, will not be brought back for the upcoming season.
According to a club source, no additional alterations to the coaching staff are anticipated. Albert had been elevated from the minor leagues to the major league role last offseason after the dismissals of hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes.
During Albert's tenure, the Mets' offense struggled, ranking 20th in Major League Baseball with an average of 4.31 runs per game. The team also placed 23rd in the league with a .706 OPS. Troy Snitker and Rafael Fernandez, who were brought in as hitting coach and assistant hitting coach respectively under Albert, are expected to remain with the organization.
Danny Barnes had been a part of the Mets' coaching staff for five seasons, primarily responsible for conveying analytical data to the players. The other coaches set to return include Kai Correa (bench coach), Justin Willard (pitching coach), Daniel McKinney (assistant pitching coach), Gilbert Gomez (first base coach), Tim Leiper (third base coach), José Rosado (bullpen coach), and J.P. Arencibia (catching instructor).
In addition to Albert and Barnes, the Mets also announced that batting practice pitcher Kevin Mahoney will not be returning. While all three individuals may be considered for other positions within the organization, they are free to explore opportunities with other teams.
Key Analysis
The Mets' decision to part ways with Albert and Barnes comes after a disappointing offensive season. The team's 20th-place finish in runs per game and 23rd in OPS highlight the need for improvement. With the core coaching staff largely intact, the focus will now shift to finding replacements who can revitalize the lineup and help the Mets compete in a tough NL East division.
Originally reported by nypost.