The New York Mets are officially shaking things up big time, announcing major coaching changes following what everyone can agree was an unsuccessful 2026 season. Jeff Albert, Danny Barnes, and Kevin Mahoney won’t be back in their major league roles next year, and honestly, can you even be surprised?
Mets’ Batting Woes Lead to Hitting Coach’s Exit
Let’s talk about Jeff Albert. This guy joined the Mets back in 2022 as their Director of Hitting Development, after four years with the Cardinals. By October 2025, he was bumped up to Director of Major League Hitting. So, what happened? Well, the Mets offense in 2026 was just rough. I mean, *really* rough. They ranked 23rd in batting average, 24th in OPS, and yeah, 23rd in wRC+. Those numbers are not pretty, and frankly, when your offense struggles that hard, something’s gotta give.
Barnes and Mahoney Also Out in Major League Shakeup
It wasn’t just Albert feeling the heat, though. Danny Barnes, who came on board with the Mets as a major league assistant coach to Buck Showalter in 2022, is also moving on. He switched roles a few times, serving as Strategy Coach in 2024 and 2025 before becoming the Quality Assurance Coach for 2026. The guy used to pitch for the Blue Jays, so he’s seen the game from different angles. And then there’s Kevin Mahoney, their Batting Practice Pitcher. He’d been with the Mets for two years, coming over from the Yankees organization. It’s a full-on reset behind the scenes.
So, what’s next for these guys and the Mets? The organization has said they’re open to Albert, Barnes, and Mahoney potentially coming back in different roles. But here’s the kicker: all three are now free agents on the coaching market, able to chat with any other club out there. This isn’t just a small tweak, it’s a clear signal from the Mets that they are not messing around after a season like that. It’s going to be wild to see who they bring in to try and turn this thing around for next year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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