The Mets’ ongoing search for a new president of baseball operations has taken a turn. As Andy Martino of SNY reported, it’s appearing unlikely that they’ll be able to hire David Stearns or Billy Beane, both of whom they’ve been linked to for some time but have failed to come to an agreement with.
According to Martino, the Mets could now shift to looking for a general manager.
The issue lies in the Mets’ access to speak to Stearns and Beane. Martino expects the Mets to be denied permission to speak to Stearns, while Beane is unlikely to leave Oakland. The team previously did speak to Theo Epstein, but nothing came of it. If they miss out on all three, hiring a GM would fill that void.
Nothing’s set in stone yet one way or the other, but reports are indicating that the Mets hiring Stearns or Beane is appearing less and less likely. Under Steve Cohen’s ownership, the Mets are without a true long-term leader figure in the clubhouse. Hiring a POBO or GM is clearly a priority of this offseason.
