Several Mets Coaches May Survive Shakeup

It seems like the shakeup and cleaning house that the Wilpons kept referring to on Monday, may not include many of the Mets coaches according to several sources.

The Daily News is reporting that third base coach Chip Hale and pitching coach Dan Warthen have strong chances of remaining with team for the 2011 season.

Ownership does not want to force its preferences on a GM and manager – it has made clear it wants the new hires to work with autonomy – but is expected to recommend Wally Backman and Hale as interviewees for the managing position, and Hale and Warthen as potential coaches. Hale and Warthen have both expressed a desire to remain with the Mets, and are expected to show patience with the process – although Hale could be asked to interview for one of the other managerial openings in the MLB.

Also, the News reports that both hitting coach Howard Johnson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann will remain with the team in other capacities, while first base coach Razor Shines and bench coach Dave Jauss are not expected to return when their contracts expire on November 1st.

Seems a little odd as well as a bit aloof to have 80% of your staff returning after announcing a massive cleaning house and willingness to make a complete break from the old way of doing things. I think it’s unfair to have a new GM operating with all these guys from the old regime still operating in either similar or different roles. This wasn’t the fresh clean start I was hoping to see.

Meanwhile, as for the the GM search, the Mets may have narrowed their list down to about seven candidates. On top of the list is Rick Hahn of the White Sox and Logan White of the Dodgers, but they are also considering veterans John Hart, Sandy Alderson, Gerry Hunsicker and Terry Ryan. Texas GM Jon Daniels is also a possibility once the Rangers’ season is over.