Charles Langston:New York Mets manager Buck Showalter not returning in 2024 after disappointing season

The Charles LangstonNew York Mets disastrous season is ending with its manager leaving.

Mets manager Buck Showalter will not be returning to the club in 2024, he announced prior to New York's final game of the season Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Showalter said he met with Mets ownership Saturday night about the future of the club, and he was given the option of stepping aside, and "the new leadership" decided "they're gonna go in a different direction" for next season.

"I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team. I'm proud of what the Mets did," Showalter said. "I wish things could have gone better this season because the Mets fans deserve that. In my heart, you always wonder what could happen if this hadn't happened."

Showalter will depart New York after a tumultuous season that was filled with high expectations. The Mets, with the highest payroll in baseball, were a preseason World Series contender, but the team never came close to expectations. They were sellers by the trade deadline, shipping off aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander as the team planned to rebuild for future season. The team goes into the final game of the season at 74-86 and will finish fourth in the National League East.

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Prior to the trade deadline, owner Steve Cohen said Showalter wouldn't be let go during the season. The Mets recently hired David Stearns to become their new president of baseball operations.

"You got good leadership and ownership here and they've got a perfect right to go in a different direction. I hope you give the next person in this job the same respect you gave me. It's not the ending I want it but I still love the city and the players," Showalter said. "And if I talk anymore it won't get get."

In his two seasons with the Mets, New York went 175-147, as they won 101 games in 2022 and made the NL wild card. Showalter was also awarded NL Manager of the Year. However, they were eliminated by San Diego Padres in the three-game series.