The Mets managerial search will likely remain internal, a decision that is now down to Luis Rojas, Hensley Meulens, and Tony DeFrancesco, according to Andy Martino on Tuesday night. With the search down to the wire, and one that will likely aim to conclude before spring training, the team will have to decide who will replace Carlos Beltran in the wake of his departure on Thursday.
Luis Rojas, a fan favorite among potential candidates, was interviewed for the position when it first became available in 2019. Rojas has been with the organization for 14 seasons at the minor league level and spent the 2019 season on the major league coaching staff as a quality-control coach. The 38-year-old has management experience, but whether he can rise to the occasion of managing the team in the eyes of Brodie Van Wagenen is still up in the air.
As of Monday, Hensley Meulens reportedly earned himself a spot on the Red Sox’s radar as a potential manager, in light of a vacancy made by Alex Cora amid the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Meulens has been a minor and major league coach for two decades, but has no management experience, making the 52-year-old a similar choice for the team, as Beltran was also set to be a rookie manager.
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Tony DeFrancesco earned himself a spot as the Mets’ first base coach for the 2020 season, after a two-year stint as Triple-A manager of the Syracuse Mets. He also interviewed for the job previously, before it ultimately went to Beltran. DeFrancesco, who has 26 years of coaching experience, is well-liked among the organization.
With just a few weeks until spring training, the Mets will need to come to a decision swiftly. With internal interviews underway soon, it is the hope that the team will be able to reach a quick and well-suited decision.
