Cincinnati Reds game planning and outfield coach Jeff Pickler has removed his name from the Mets’ bench coach search, according to The Athletic‘s C. Trent Rosecrans. The report comes just hours after it was revealed the Mets were denied permission to speak to Ryan Flaherty, the Padres’ quality control coach, for the same position.
Pickler was previously reported as a person of interest to the Mets by Ken Rosenthal. The 46-year-old is well-regarded among coaching circles, and he ultimately decided to stay with David Bell and the Reds. He’d previously held positions in the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Padres organizations before joining the Reds in 2019.
Two other names publically reported as in consideration for the team’s bench coach job are Clayton McCollough and John Russell.
McCollough, who is the Dodgers’ first-base coach, interviewed for the Mets’ managerial job and reportedly impressed the Mets’ front office. Russell was Buck Showalter‘s bench coach for all but one year of his tenure with the Baltimore Orioles. He was previously the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for three seasons.
The bench coach is the primary coaching position left the Mets need to fill. They hired coaches for first base (Wayne Kirby), third base (Joey Cora) and hitting coach (Eric Chavez) this week.
