Alderson addresses Mets' search for new GM
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It’s Day 2 of the GM Meetings in Carlsbad, Calif., and the Mets have not made a decision on who their next general manager will be.
According to team president Sandy Alderson, the club has talked to a handful of candidates, but it has not set a deadline for when it expects to hire a GM to replace Zack Scott, who was relieved of his duties on Nov. 1. Scott had been on administrative leave since shortly after his Aug. 31 arrest in White Plains, N.Y. His DUI trial is set for Dec. 8.
Alderson doesn’t plan to interview any new candidates while he is in California, but he will follow up with candidates he has already spoken to; Alderson declined to name who those candidates were. According to published reports, the Mets have interest in former Angels GM Billy Eppler. Others, including Theo Epstein, Billy Beane and David Stearns, have already removed themselves from consideration or been declined permission to interview by their current clubs.
A source told MLB.com on Tuesday that one candidate in the mix is former Nationals assistant GM Adam Cromie, first reported as an option by The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes. The Mets have not confirmed those reports.
“We'll see what happens before the end of the week,” Alderson told reporters on Tuesday. “I will say this about the search: … We've talked to a lot of people. Probably half the people are going to be here today. In some cases, you know, we haven't gotten permission [to talk to some candidates].
“I think people are comfortable where they are, whether it be a family situation or something. And in other cases, I think, admittedly, there's a reluctance to come to New York, but I think it's mostly about New York, not about [owner] Steve [Cohen] or the organization’s overhead. It's a big stage, and some people would just prefer to be elsewhere.”
Once the Mets find their new GM, they will need to hire a manager to replace Luis Rojas and build out a coaching staff for next season. The only coach confirmed to be returning to the big league team is pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.