In order to start planning for next season and deciding on any roster moves or improvements, the New York Mets should designate their new president of baseball operations. After that, they will likely appoint a new general manager and then decided on whether or not they will retain Luis Rojas as the team skipper.
That is, apparently, the plan that new owner Steve Cohen and Mets’ president Sandy Alderson are going to follow. The New York Mets are expected to make some noise during free agency, but these steps must be completed first.
Several names have been mentioned in recent days for both positions. Oakland A’s general manager David Forst, Tampa Bay Rays’ special assistant Bobby Heck, and former Miami Marlins’ executive Michael Hill are some of them.
However, there is one particular executive that seems to be gaining steam as the Mets’ potential president of baseball operations. According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com, Indians general manager Mike Chernoff has emerged as a leading candidate to become the new head of baseball-related decisions.
The Mets asked permission to talk to him
In the past couple of days, the Mets requested permission to the Indians to interview Chernoff, a standout executive who has been with the team since the 2003 season. According to Morosi’s report, there are “strong indications” that New York received such permission.
Ever since he came to Cleveland in 2003, Chernoff has declined several other potential destinations and job interviews, including one with the Mets in 2018, when the team eventually decided to go with Brodie Van Wagenen.
But Morosi notes that this time may be different: “New Mets owner Steve Cohen has pledged to dedicate significant resources toward building a sustainable winner.
“In that way, the Mets’ current opening represents a singular opportunity: Chernoff could lead the club’s baseball operations, with the resources to win a World Series, all while moving his family closer to his New Jersey hometown. Chernoff’s father, Mark, works for WFAN-AM in New York City — the current Yankees and former Mets radio flagship station — as vice president of programming.”