Wakamatsu Hired As Blue Jays Coach, But Will Still Meet With Alderson

Don Wakamatsu has been hired by the Blue Jays and added to manager John Farrell’s staff as bench coach. He will still be permitted to interview with Sandy Alderson for the Mets managerial vacancy on Wednesday. Wakamatsu is the first Asian-American manager in major league history.

Original Post 7:55 AM

Andy Martino of the Daily News runs down the week ahead as Sandy Alderson continues interviewing managerial candidates.

The Mets’ managerial search returns to New York Tuesday, when GM Sandy Alderson will begin another series of meetings with candidates. The team has not yet made a schedule public, but sources say Texas hitting coach Clint Hurdle, former Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu, Double-A Binghamton manager Tim Teufel and Triple-A Buffalo manager Ken Oberkfell are expected to interview.

Because Oberkfell is currently managing in winter ball, his interview could take place in the Dominican Republic, one source said. Hurdle is a leading candidate for the Pirates’ managing job, so his potential meeting with the Mets might be affected by that opportunity. One report, which the Mets did not confirm, said the team would interview Boston coach DeMarlo Hale. Last month, Hale was a strong candidate for the Toronto job that eventually went to former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell.

Also, Maureen Mullen of Comcast Sportsnet adds DeMarlo Hale to the mix of potential candidates to fill the Mets managerial vacancy.

Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale is among the candidates to be the next manager of the New York Mets, according to a source. 

Hale, 50, also interviewed for the Blue Jays manager position earlier this offseason before former Sox pitching coach John Farrell was named to that post. He is expected to interview with the Mets Tuesday or Wednesday.

Hale has been with the Sox since the 2006 season.  He just completed his first season as manager Terry Francona’s bench coach. Prior to that he was the team’s third base coach.

Hale has no major league experience, but has managed at every minor-league levels for the Red Sox and Rangers and was named minor league manager of the year by Baseball America in 1999.

No word yet from Alderson regarding his interviews with Wally Backman and Terry Collins. I will update this post when we hear something.