Carlos Mendoza did not get rid of Pete Alonso, David Stearns did.
Carlos Mendoza did not get rid of Brandon Nimmo, David Stearns did.
Carlos Mendoza did not sign Frankie Montas, David Stearns did.
Carlos Mendoza did not sign Jorge Polanco or trade for Luis Robert Jr, David Stearns did.
Carlos Mendoza did not make the decision to go into the season relying on players like David Peterson, Kodai Senga, and Sean Manaea, David Stearns did.
Someone had to be responsible and unfortunately it fell on Mendoza, but it is solely on David.