While the Mets cannot sign or trade for any players during the lockout, they can hire a manager (and coaching staff). It’s an important decision for new GM Billy Eppler as the Mets have lacked stability in leadership of the team for a significant stretch.
During the Max Scherzer press Zoom on Wednesday, Eppler said that he had a “wide list” of candidates for the Mets managerial position that he was going to go over with owner Steve Cohen later that night or on Thursday at some point. Meaning we should start to hear names trickle out this week.
To this point, the names connected to the Mets search have been merely speculation because of ties to Billy Eppler and/or popular names that are currently available.
Let’s take a quick look at a few of them:
Buck Showalter
Let’s put it this way, whenever you see a poll on who the Mets should hire and/or ask Mets fans their preference, the number one is Buck Showalter every single time.
The three-time American League Manager of the Year hasn’t been working in the game since being fired by the Orioles following the 2018 season. Showalter began managing at the big league level in 1992 with the Yankees, and has a 1551-1517 record in 20 years of managing.
Brad Ausmus
The former big league catcher was hired by Eppler to be the manager of the Angels back in 2019, though he lasted just one year on the job after going 72-90. Ausmus also managed Max Scherzer for one season in Detroit. Ausmus has a 386-422 combined record between the Angels and Tigers.
Joe Espada
The Astros bench coach worked in the Yankees front office with Eppler back in 2014, and also interviewed for the Angels managerial job when Billy was the GM there.
Espada has been a hot candidate to interview for managerial job for a few years now, though he has yet to be hired for the position. He has managed in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Eric Chavez
The former Gold Glove third baseman worked with Eppler as a special assistant in New York and then Billy hired Chavez to work with him as a special assistant in LA.
Chavez managed in Triple-A to close out the 2018 for the Angels, and did interview for the big league job when it was given to Ausmus in 2019.
Ron Washington
Wash is coming off an exciting World Series victory as the Braves third base coach. The former Rangers manager went 664-611 in the regular season and 18-16 in the postseason from 2007 to 2014.
Washington has talked in recent years about wanting to get back into managing, and the consensus around baseball seems to be that the time is right for that.
MMO will keep you updated when we hear more in the Mets’ managerial search.
