On Monday, the Mets shuffled up their coaching staff. Among the moves was shifting Gary DiSarcina from bench coach to third base.
DiSarcina had only one year as a bench coach under his belt, in the American League, when he was hired by the Mets prior to the 2018 season.
To support manager Mickey Callaway, hiring a former National League manager as bench coach might prove to be beneficial, and that’s what it looks like New York intends to do, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Some of the names being considered by the Mets are Jim Riggleman, Fredi Gonzalez, Bryan Price, Pete MacKinin and John Russell according to Sherman.
Riggleman’s name came up yesterday as a possible option after he was let go by the Reds several days ago.
The 65-year-old has been managing professionally since the early 1980s and got his first Major League managerial gig in 1992 with the San Diego Padres right towards the end of that season.
Other than San Diego, he managed the Chicago Cubs from 1995-99, The Seattle Mariners in 2008, the Washington Nationals from 2009-11 and most recently the aforementioned Reds this year.
Gonzalez, 54, is no stranger to the NL East. He was hired by the Florida Marlins in 2007 as their manager and stuck with them through 2010. He then was tabbed by the Braves in 2011 and managed them until 2016, when he was fired early in the season.
Overall, he has accumulated a 710-692 record as manager including two playoff appearances.
Price, 56, also managed in Cincinnati this past season before being fired in favor of Riggleman. In four plus seasons with the Reds, Price logged a 279-387 record. The Reds did not reach the playoffs in his time as manager.
MacKinin, 67, most recently managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2015-17. He also spent time as interim manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds earlier in the ’00s.
Russell, 57, managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2008-10, where he logged a 186-299 record. Since 2011, he has been the bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles.
