The New York Mets are still looking for a replacement for former manager Luis Rojas. Since there is currently a lockout and the team can’t sign or trade for anyone, the organization is exclusively focused on the search for a new skipper.
In recent days, it was reported that veteran Buck Showalter was “high in the list†for the Mets. Now, we also know, thanks to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, that Brad Ausmus interviewed for the opening.
SNY reporter Andy Martino had reported that Ausmus was a candidate and would be interviewing. The former major league catcher has several years of experience as a manager: he led the Detroit Tigers from 2014 to 2017, and then took over the Los Angeles Angels (under Mets’ current general manager Billy Eppler, when he worked in the west coast team) in 2019.
Ausmus had a 386-422 record as an MLB manager, with a .478 winning percentage. He made the Division Series with the Tigers in 2014, but was swept.
Two additional manager candidates for the Mets
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Mets are also interested in Joe Espada as a potential manager candidate, and have already asked permission to the Houston Astros to interview him. He is their bench coach at the moment.
Additionally, the Mets have also formally requested permission from the Tampa Bay Rays to interview their bench coach Matt Quatraro for the position, according to Olney.
Showalter is seen as an old-school manager, while Quatraro and Espada are regarded as good managerial prospects in a modern way. Ausmus started off his manager career well in 2014, but hasn’t enjoyed too much success since and hasn’t worked since 2019.
The Mets declined to extend Rojas after two disappointing seasons in which they finished with a record under .500. He is now the third base coach of the New York Yankees.