The list of needs for the Mets this offseason continues to grow as sources told Mike Puma of the New York Post that the team expects to part ways with pitching coach Dan Warthen.
Warthen, 64, has been with the Mets since he was hired as pitching coach in 2008 following Rick Peterson. A source told Puma, “team officials simply believe it’s time for a change after a ‘historically’ bad season by the pitchers.” The Mets have a 5.02 staff ERA this season, 14th in the National League.
According to Puma’s sources, the top candidates to replace Warthen include Mets bullpen coach Ricky Bones and minor league pitching coordinator Ron Romanick. Frank Viola, who has spent the past four seasons as the pitching coach at Triple-A Las Vegas and pitched for the Mets from 1989-1991, is unlikely to be considered for the job.
Puma names Red Sox director of pitcher development Brian Bannister, who broke into the majors in 2006 with the Mets, and former Oakland pitching coach Curt Young, who has ties to general manager Sandy Alderson from the Athletics, as external options.
