Major league sources told the Daily News that director of major league operations Adam Wogan, with the team since 2006, has been told that he will not have his contract renewed.
Wogan plans to continue in his role until the end of the year, but has been given immediate permission to speak with other teams.
General manager Sandy Alderson confirmed the move, and spoke of Wogan in highly complimentary terms.
“Adam did a terrific job for us over a long period of time,” Alderson said. “This is not about Adam. This is about some restructuring in the organization.”
Wogan served as director of minor league operations under Omar Minaya starting in 2006, before being promoted to a front office position last season.
This comes almost a year to the day that another very respected executive left the Mets, Chad MacDonald, who oversaw amateur scouting and the draft. MacDonald was largely responsible for the Mets 2011 draft that included taking high school outfielder Brandon Nimmo 13th overall, then prep right-hander Michael Fulmer out of Oklahoma with the 44th overall selection. MacDonald emphasized the importance of drafting higher ceiling players despite the risk, rather than making safe picks on marginal players who were more polished. He is now with the San Diego Padres.
So if Wogan is that highly regarded in MLB circles, why is he being let go?
Martino says it’s all part of Alderson’s vision for a leaner organization and one that is inline with organizational philosophies.
Many of the duties of Wogan and other executives that are no longer with the team, have shifted to one man, Dick Scott, who worked with Mets executive J.P. Ricciardi when they were with the Toronto Blue Jays. Ricciardi was just signed to a three-year extension last month.
It’s pretty obvious now that Sandy Alderson is making sure that everyone is on-board with implementing philosophies that he considers critically important, like plate discipline. It doesn’t seem like there is any room for differing onions or perspectives.
