Pat Gillick Declines Mets GM Job

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that after a phone call with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, GM candidate Pat Gillick declined the opportunity to become the Mets new GM.

Scratch Phillies executive Pat Gillick off the list of candidates for the Mets’ vacant general manager position.

The Phillies granted permission for the Mets to interview Gillick, and Gillick spoke Friday with the Mets’ chief operating officer, Jeff Wilpon.

But Gillick, who lives in Seattle, declined to pursue the opportunity further, citing a preference to remain on the west coast if he becomes a GM again.

“It was a very positive conversation,” Gillick said of his talk with Wilpon.

“I wouldn’t mind working again. I would like to work again. But I prefer to work here on the west coast. If it wasn’t for that, I’d certainly be interested.”

Gillick is 74, and has been a GM for the Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies, winning two World Series with the Jays in ’92 and ’93 and another with the Phillies in ’08.

Former A’s GM Sandy Alderson, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, former Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes and former Royals GM Allard Baird will all meet with Jeff Wilpon this upcoming week to interview for the vacant GM position.