Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports is reporting that the New York Mets are expected to look outside the organization in its search for a new general manager at the end of the season.
Per Heyman, the owners and executives “aren’t sure of themselves,” but have floated a few names that range in terms of experience, pedigree and likelihood, with some even currently operating as general managers in other organizations.
Some preliminary candidates include Mike Chernoff of the Cleveland Indians and David Stearns of the Milwaukee Brewers – both tristate natives and current GMs.
In the case of Chicago Cubs’ GM and World Series champion Jed Hoyer, the Mets may have to promote their next executive hire to a presidential position. Josh Byrnes, the runner-up in the Mets’ last search in the 2010-2011 offseason, is another potential suitor, although he too will need to be pried away from his current team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Heyman also brings up the possibility that the organization pulls in Ben Cherington of the Toronto Blue Jays, Jared Porter of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ray Montgomery and Matt Arnold (both currently with the Brewers), and Kim Ng (formerly of the Yankees and Dodgers).
While he finds little reason to believe that the team maintains one, some, or all of the current triumvirate, Heyman has proposed that long-time vice president John Ricco would be the strongest candidate, and that Sandy Alderson, by his own admission, is apparently “done,” unlikely to resume his career in Queens.
We have also put together our own, albeit merely speculative, list of potential candidates containing background information on some of the above candidates.
On a financial level, the Mets in are ”excellent financial health” according Heyman. Thanks to their partnership with SNY and “other endeavors,” they are expected to bring somebody aboard who will use these benefits wisely as the team attempts to pull itself from the abyss.
With this offseason’s free agent class featuring a plethora of prime talent, namely Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel, and Patrick Corbin, things may be looking up in terms of how the Mets intend to reconstruct and contend around a core of Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, should they keep such a nucleus together.
