With the Mets scrambling to find a manager to replace Carlos Beltran with pitchers and catchers reporting in less than one month, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports three-time NL Manager of the Year Dusty Baker is being considered for the position.

Baker, 70, was not seriously considered earlier in the offseason to replace Mickey Callaway. However, Baker was previously considered last year when the team struggled in May.

It should be noted that while the Mets are facing an unprecedented situation, Baker has taken over a team under somewhat similar circumstances.

Back in 2015, the Washington Nationals agreed in principle to hire Bud Black, but he backed out of the agreement when he and the Nationals could not agree to financial terms. After this deal fell apart, the Nationals quickly turned to Baker.

The Nationals won the NL East both years Baker managed the team. In both seasons, the Nationals lost in the NLDS prompting a change.

In his 22-year managerial career, Baker is 1863-1636 (.532). He has managed four teams making the postseason with each team he has managed. That includes winning the 2002 pennant with the San Francisco Giants.

As noted by Puma, aside from pedigree, Baker is of interest because he “is known as a strong presence and communicator, and would bring instant credibility to a team that expects to compete for the NL East title.”

If the Mets do not hire Baker, the Mets could circle back to some of the other candidates they previously considered like Eduardo Perez, Tim Bogar, and Pat Murphy. With respect to Murphy, Brewers officials have reportedly said he would be a good fit for the position.

Internally, the Mets are considering Hensley Meulens, Luis Rojas, and Tony DeFrancesco. Of the three, DeFrancesco is the only one with Major League managerial experience is DeFrancesco, who managed 41 games as the interim manager of the 2012 Cincinnati Reds.

Overall, the Mets are casting a wide net to replace Beltran, and we are seeing some names re-emerge. One name which likely won’t emerge, according to Puma, is Terry Collins.