NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltrán wouldn’t rule out interviewing to become manager of the New York Mets, a job he left before he ran a single game in 2020, but he didn’t sound all that interested.
His number 15 was retired by the team Saturday before its next-to-last home game of a disappointing season in which Carlos Mendoza was fired on June 26 as the high-spending team skidded to a losing record.
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Carlos Beltran answers questions from reporters during press conference, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran answers questions from reporters during press conference, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran's number is unveiled during a retirement ceremony at Citi field, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran acknowledges fans during a ceremony to retire his number, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran acknowledges fans during a ceremony to retire his number, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
“Being a manager in Major League Baseball is a huge commitment — very huge commitment,” Beltrán said before the ceremony, in which he was also inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. “I’m not saying that I’m not willing to take that commitment but right now, at the position where I am today in life, I love to be a dad, I love to be a husband, I love to be involved in the Carlos Beltrán Academy in Puerto Rico.
“And being a manager, you would not be able to do that full-time,” Beltrán added with a laugh.
A nine-time All-Star, Beltrán was hired Mets’ manager on Nov. 1, 2019, but left 76 days later in the fallout from the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Beltrán was the only Astros player mentioned by name in Major League Baseball’s report that concluded Houston broke rules by using electronics to steal signs en route to the 2017 World Series title.
Beltrán is the 12th member of the Mets to have his number retired and the 38th person inducted into their Hall of Fame. He returned to the Mets in 2023 as a front office special assistantr.
“Right now, I love what I’m doing,” Beltrán said. “I believe that the opportunity the Mets are giving me to be part of the organization and be able to comment on the things I experienced as a baseball player — to hopefully continue to add value to the decisions that they’re making and bring perspective on how I see things.”
Mendoza was fired by president of baseball operations David Stearns on June 26 following a 34-47 start and the entered Saturday 36-37 under interim manager Andy Green, who wants to return to a front office role.
“Whatever step forward we do, I know it’s going to be for the benefit of the organization,” Beltrán said. “And being honest, I think Andy has done a good job. He has done an incredible job for the Mets.”
Elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in January, Beltran hit .280 with 149 homers, 559 RBIs and 100 stolen bases while winning three Gold Gloves in six-plus seasons for the Mets from 2005-11.
“I think my skin got thicker playing in this city, which is good,” Beltrán said. “Because of the moments that I experienced here, I’m better. I’m better in every aspect. I want to use those experiences to continue to share it with the next generation — share it with all the people that might be filling the same shoes that I filled.”
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Carlos Beltran answers questions from reporters during press conference, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran answers questions from reporters during press conference, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran's number is unveiled during a retirement ceremony at Citi field, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran acknowledges fans during a ceremony to retire his number, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carlos Beltran acknowledges fans during a ceremony to retire his number, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Raphinha continued his red-hot form with a hat trick in a 3-1 win at Sevilla as defending champion Barcelona recorded a seventh straight victory in La Liga on Saturday.
Lamine Yamal set up two of the irrepressible Brazilian's goals to make it a La Liga-high 12 so far — one less than Raphinha scored all last season.
Earlier, Lautaro Martinez rescued Inter Milan with two second-half goals as the defending Serie A champion drew 2-2 at Roma in their table-topping clash.
Arsenal lost top spot in the Premier League after a first defeat and Borussia Dortmund went first in Germany with a fourth straight victory.
This time it wasn't Donyell Malen scoring for Roma but midfielder Manu Koné with two first-half goals as Roma stayed top on goal difference. Martinez netted twice in the second half as both sides remained undefeated.
Maximilian Beier's effort gave Dortmund a 1-0 win at Stuttgart and a two-point lead over defending champion Bayern Munich.
Koné put Roma ahead in the sixth minute after being set up by Nahuel Molina, who nodded back a back-post cross from Paulo Dybala for Koné to run onto.
He scored again from close range in the 37th after being set up by Gianluca Mancini, following another curling cross by Dybala. The goal was ruled offside but given following a video check.
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini stopped Koné being sold to Inter in the offseason.
Martinez replied immediately after the break, clipping the ball inside the post after combining superbly with Marcus Thuram on a swift counterattack, then equalized in the 79th.
Third-placed Lazio won 2-0 at Venezia while fourth-placed Cagliari continued its fine start with a 1-0 win at Udinese. Midfielder Daniel Maldini — the son of famed Italy defender Paolo Maldini — scored for the Sardinian side.
After firing coach Domenico Tedesco, Bologna drew 1-1 at home to Torino.
Barca has 31 goals in seven games and moved six points ahead of Real Madrid, which plays at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Raphinha cut inside a defender and found the bottom right corner for his first goal, which came midway through the first half and after Youssouf Fofana gave Sevilla the lead.
Lamine Yamal bamboozled the Sevilla defense with quick footwork before crossing for Raphinha to head in from close range in the 52nd. Yamal then assisted again.
Barring injury, Raphinha is set to smash his career best tally of 18 league goals from two seasons ago.
Rayo Vallecano striker Sergio Camello made it seven goals so far in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna.
After being crushed 7-2 by Barca in midweek, Racing Santander was routed 5-0 at Celta Vigo with Pablo Duran scoring twice.
Alaves drew 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao in a Basque Country derby.
Brighton moved up to third place after its 3-0 win over Arsenal capped a fine week for the Seagulls, following victory at Manchester United in the League Cup.
Goal difference dropped Arsenal behind City, which can move three points ahead by beating Sunderland at home on Sunday.
Big-spending Tottenham finally scored but lost 3-2 at home to Europa League winner Aston Villa.
Newcastle won 2-1 against Hull and Everton beat Ipswich 1-0.
Coach Frank Lampard's Coventry snapped a four-game losing start with a 1-0 success at Nottingham Forest.
Ghana striker Ernest Nuamah scored twice as second-placed Lyon thumped Rennes 4-0 at home in Ligue 1.
English coach Liam Rosenior got one over on his former club as Paris FC beat Strasbourg 2-1 at home.
Ilan Kebbal and Pablo Pagis scored for Paris FC, which is undefeated after five games.
Rosenior upset Strasbourg fans after leaving in January for a short and ill-fated spell at Chelsea. He taunted Strasbourg's visiting fans at the final whistle but said some had insulted his family.
Angers, Le Mans and Toulouse also won at home.
A change of coac h for Borussia Moenchengladbach did not stop the team conceding goals as Gladbach lost 4-3 at home to Mainz for a fourth straight defeat and 16 goals conceded.
Third-place Freiburg is level with Bayern after twice coming from behind in a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Barcelona's Raphinha, right, celebrates with Lamine Yamal after scoring his side's second goal the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Borussia Dortmund's Maximilian Beier, center, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday Sept. 19, 2026. (Jan-Philipp Strobel/dpa via AP)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta walks off the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal in Brighton, England, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Roma's Manu Kone celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Series A soccer match between Roma and Inter Milan in Rome, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Series A soccer match between Roma and Inter Milan in Rome, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
