MLB Network Radio host and former Mets GM Steve Phillips predicted that if former Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire decides to return to managing in 2016, it will be with the Mets.
That’s a bold prediction by Phillips and if it were to happen it would certainly be a huge hit with the fans and a positive PR move for the organization.
Gardenhire, who was visiting Twins training camp, told the Star-Tribune that he “would love to manage again.”
“I’ve got a lot left in me in baseball. If somebody is looking for a manager and I’m a fit, great. I would love to manage again.”
Today we learned that Sandy Alderson was actually very close to firing Terry Collins as told in his new biography Baseball Maverick.
“Amid reports manager Terry Collins’ job was safe last August, Collins’ chance of returning actually was 51 percent, according to Alderson, who told Kettmann at the time: “Frankly, for me, that percentage has been eroding.”
“Alderson was upset about a drop in walks. We can’t just throw up our hands and say, ‘We’re not being selective at the plate anymore, so much for that. A meeting with hitters saved Collins’ job.”
Collins does have a 2016 option worth $1.2 million, and last month he said he has no intentions of retiring, which makes this all the more interesting.
Despite six playoff appearances in 13 seasons as Twins manager, Gardenhire was fired by the Twins.
So let’s see if I got this straight… a manager with six playoff appearances versus a manager with no post season appearances and a lengthy active losing streak to go with it. Yeah… I’d gladly love to see this happen.
But of course this is some pretty wild speculation by Phillips… At this point it’s way too early to be talking about successors to Collins who by the way is still the Mets manager and is planning to here next year.
