The Mets search for a president of baseball operations has lasted two seasons and will now go on to three.
At the GM meetings in California this week, team president Sandy Alderson admitted that at this time the Mets are only looking to hire someone for the general manager position.
Speaking for the first time since the end of the season, Alderson discussed the Mets front office and why some candidates might be reluctant to head to Queens.
The Mets don’t expect to make a hire before the end of the week. Alderson has already conducted many interviews with Steve Cohen interviewing some. Alderson expects to know a lot more by the end of the week.
Alderson repeatedly pushed the narrative that executives don’t want to come to New York because it is New York.
“New York’s a big stage,” Alderson said. “I understand where some executives are in their career and the trajectory of their career so I’m not surprised in some cases at least there’s some reluctant. I’m not saying it’s all New York but at the same time I think that’s a significant factor.”
The Mets have a laundry list of candidates that have declined to interview for the job or have no interest. Former Giants general manager Brian Sabean was the only exec to outwardly voice his want for the position but the Mets didn’t reciprocate those feelings.
Alderson discussed his and Cohen’s high standards for any hire. They are not “going to go out and hire someone to fill the spot.” They emphasize finding the right person. There is not a scenario right now that has Alderson step in as the general manager for a year.
One of the questions being asked about the Mets front office is the ability to work between Alderson and his son Bryn an assistant GM with the Mets. Having to navigate between a father-son relationship could impede the autonomy a candidate is looking for. Alderson attempted to dispel the notion.
“I really think that’s a red herring,” Alderson said. “For example, in this search, he has no idea who we’re talking to. There’s a firewall there. I expect him as well as anybody else in the organization to be loyal and work hard for whoever comes in.”
Alderson agreed another reason candidates might shy away from the job is the uncertainty of how Cohen acts as an owner. The Mets continue to address that with candidates.
“I’m not happy with the narrative,” Alderson said. “Looking at the organization from within, as opposed to from without, I’m very pleased with where we’re going.”
Alderson wants the narrative to be that candidates are afraid of the Mets because of the location and not who currently resides in the front office there.
“There’s a certain amount of risk associated with it,” Alderson said. “And you can talk about the risk in the terms of the organization, you can talk about the rest in terms of me, you can talk about the risk in terms of Steve, you can talk about the risk of New York. If you’re looking to be comfortable, the Mets are probably not the place to be. If you’re looking to be challenged and rewarded, because I don’t think there’s any doubt that this team is going to be successful over the next X number of years, then go for it.”
