Contrary to fan and media speculation, all of the Mets’ managerial eggs are not in Craig Counsell‘s basket.
Toronto first base coach Mark Budzinski has drawn interest from the Mets for their vacant managerial opening, according to a report from TSN.
Budzinski, who is heavily involved in organizing and executing Toronto’s defensive strategies and alignments based on data metrics, is also drawing interest from Cleveland, per the same TSN report. The Guardians have a managerial vacancy, following the retirement of Terry Francona at the conclusion of this past regular season.
Budzinski, 50, has served on Toronto’s staff since 2019. Prior, he managed in Cleveland’s minor league system from 2014 – 2017 and was on the Guardians’ major league coaching staff in 2018, hence the organization’s familiarity with and interest in bringing him back.
Budzinski also played 11 seasons in the minor leagues and got a cup of coffee in the majors with the Reds in 2003. The former outfielder had a .756 OPS and 150 stolen bases in 1,235 minor league games. He was a 21st round pick of Cleveland in 2015.
Interestingly, Budzinski is a licensed real estate agent in Virginia and maintains his business there during the offseason.
If Counsell is not interested in becoming the Mets manager, David Stearns will hope he can sell Budzinski on making New York his new baseball residence.
