The New York Mets are moving closer to naming a general manager, according to recent reports. The new ownership group, led by hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, started the winter by cleaning house with the front office and looking for both a GM and a president of baseball operations. However, they recently decided to search for a candidate only for the first position, the latter being exercised in practice by team president Sandy Alderson.
However, and according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the New York Mets have now narrowed their search for their next general manager to four candidates. They were six at one point a couple of weeks ago.
The four names still in competition to be the new Mets’ general manager are Boston Red Sox assistant GM Zack Scott, Arizona Diamondbacks assistant GM Jared Porter, Oakland Athletics executive Billy Owens and former Marlins team president and general manager Michael Hill.
The Mets are one of the most desirable landing spots
Chris Young was also a candidate not too long ago, but he removed his name from consideration to take the Mets position in order to accept the job as the new general manager of the Texas Rangers.
Of course, there is always the possibility of a darkhorse candidate appearing out of the blue in the next couple of days, but according to Heyman, a decision on that front could be made by next week.
The Mets are one of the most desirable landing places for executives around the league, since they have the wealthiest owner in MLB in Cohen, a very serious and respected president in Alderson, and an excellent core of players to contend in 2021 and the future.
The team disappointed in the shortened 2020 season, finishing in the last place of the NL East division with a 26-34 record. Despite that, manager Luis Rojas will be back for a shot at redemption in 2021.