The Mets have a number of areas which they need to address this offseason with the fate of their manager, Mickey Callaway, being front-and-center. According to David Lennon of Newsday, Callaway’s fate may be determined as soon as Wednesday.
There has been rampant speculation as to what the Mets may decide on Callaway’s future with many suggesting the team is prepared to move in another direction as Brodie Van Wagenen may want to hire his own manager. Part of the reason for the speculation, as Lennon notes, is because “Van Wagenen mostly has avoided reporters rather than get drawn into a discussion about the manager.”
Lennon noted the relationship between Callaway and Van Wagenen has been complicated. Notably, Van Wagenen has been a constant presence in the Mets clubhouse, and he has undermined Callaway with the players in the clubhouse. While not mentioned in the article, you do have to wonder how much Van Wagenen’s previous relationship with players like Robinson Cano, Jacob deGrom, and Todd Frazier have impacted the dynamic between the General Manager/Manager relationship.
As is always the case, the Wilpons serve as a complication in this decision. Even if the front office will push for a new manager, the Wilpons continue to “have considerable input in how the on-field product operates,” and as is always the case, they will have the final call. On that front, Fred Wilpon was noted to have met with Callaway to discuss the future of the bullpen.
If the Wilpons do acquiesce and agree to fire Callaway, no one should anticipate one of the big name managers being hired. The expectation is the team will not be willing to pay the $5 million price tag for Joe Girardi or Joe Maddon.
That would put the Mets in a position where they are hiring either the next version of Terry Collins, i.e. a retread manager not in demand, or the next version of Callaway. If that is the route the Mets pursue, the hope is the next manager would have the impact Alex Cora had with the Boston Red Sox.
Of course, that assumes the Mets do indeed fire Callaway. As noted by Lennon, that decision has not been made yet, and really, anyone offering an opinion on the topic is offering their best guesses. It seems like we will soon find out whose guesses will be proven correct.
