Brandon Gomes, Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As reported by Andy Martino of SNY and our own Michael Mayer, the Mets might be looking at doing exactly what owner Steve Cohen mentioned last offseason when he talked about building the East Coast Dodgers. Martino and Mayer noted the Mets have shown interest in Dodger executives Josh Byrnes and Brandon Gomes.
Byrnes, the former D’Backs and Padres GM, is currently the Dodgers senior VP of baseball operations. He’s held that role since 2014 and played an important role in their recent success, including a 2020 World Series title.
Gomes, 37, is only six years removed from pitching in the big leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays. He is currently the Dodgers vice president and assistant GM.
Gomes has quickly moved up the latter in LA, which is no surprise to Dodgers president of baseball OPS Andrew Friedman, “Brandon has made a significant impact on our operations in each role he’s held.”
Friedman said that he started talking to Gomes about his future in a front office back when Andrew was the Rays top exec and Brandon was a reliever for the team.
Gomes and Byrnes also worked with the Mets head of analytics, Ben Zauzmer, in LA before the Mets scooped him up last offseason.
The Mets have already struck out on one big-time target in Theo Epstein and Mayer reports they’re expected whiff on Billy Beane as well. They would love to interview Brewers POBO David Stearns, but the they will likely be denied permission for the second straight offseason.
