Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson will not return to the team in 2026, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. His contract expires at the end of this month and the two sides have yet to agree on a new deal. Andy Martino of SNY added that the Mets desperately want Richardson back with the team and have made a huge effort to keep him. Martino further speculated that Richardson is likely looking for an opportunity or two elsewhere in the league.
Richardson, who turned 42 last month, has been the Mets’ first base coach since 2024. He served as the Giants’ first base coach from 2020-23 and previously served as San Francisco’s minor league outfield coordinator and minor league outfield coordinator. Richardson, a former pro outfielder who appeared in several major league games between the 2011 Braves and 2014 Yankees, also served as an outfielder and running backs coach while serving as first base coach for the Giants and Mets.
With one-third of the league’s teams set to have a new head coach in 2026 rather than the one who takes over on Opening Day in 2025, Richardson should have plenty of opportunities to stay connected to his new club. The Pirates (Don Kelly), Orioles (Craig Albernaz), Angels (Kurt Suzuki), Giants (Tony Vitello) and Rangers (Skip Schumaker) all have new full-time captains. The Twins, Padres, Braves, Rockies and Nationals are still looking for new managers. All these new managers will then interview candidates to enrich their respective staffs.
The Mets haven’t made a managerial change, but there’s been a lot of turnover on the coaching staff. Hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes have been replaced by former Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker (the son of longtime Braves manager Brian Snitker, who retired after the season) and Jeff Albert, who served as the Mets’ in-house director of hitting development. Bench coach John Gibbons was replaced by former Pioneer field coordinator Kai Correa. Assistant pitching coach Desi Druchel is leaving after one season to return to his previous team, the Yankees. Receivers coach Glenn Sherlock retires.
Richardson’s departure is the latest in a series of wide-reaching changes and creates another vacancy that will be filled by manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns.
