Who is Jared Porter?

The Mets have been the most talked-about club in baseball this offseason, and for good reason: new owner Steve Cohen has made it clear he intends to build a winner, and that the process begins by making some big free-agent signings heading into 2021. But the roster hasn't been the only item on the agenda in Queens -- there also was the matter of filling the general manager vacancy.

That task is now complete. On Sunday, the Mets officially announced their hiring of Jared Porter as the 14th GM in club history.

So, who is Porter? Here's a look at his career to this point:

Red Sox: 2004-15 (World Series titles in 2004, '07, '13)

Porter has an impressive resume, having begun his front-office career with the Red Sox under Theo Epstein. From 2004-05, he was an intern in the organization, first at the organization's Spring Training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., and then in Boston the following year.

Porter moved up the organizational ranks quickly, becoming Boston's player development assistant in 2006, coordinator of professional scouting in '08, assistant director of professional scouting in '10, and the director of professional scouting in '12.

Cubs: 2016-17 (World Series title in 2016)

In 2016, Porter reunited with Epstein in Chicago, when the Cubs hired him to be their director of professional scouting and a special assistant. Just as in Boston, Porter's first year in the organization culminated in a long World Series title drought coming to an end with Epstein at the helm.

D-backs: 2017-present

Porter joined the D-backs as senior vice president and assistant GM in 2017, tapped by former Red Sox colleague and current Arizona GM Mike Hazen. He had been rumored as a candidate for general manager openings around baseball the past few seasons, including the Cubs' current opening following Epstein's departure and Jed Hoyer's promotion to president of baseball operations.

While in Arizona, Porter took on the new challenge of building in a small-market organization after his stints in Boston and Chicago. During Spring Training in 2017, he told the Arizona Republic that he believes in combining scouting and analytics, calling it "one of the most important things in baseball to be able to do." Given the reduction in scouting staff around baseball the past few seasons, it could be different with the Mets, given Porter's long history as a scout himself.

• Podcast: Porter on the role of scouting

Experienced and versatile

Prior to getting his first taste of baseball operations with the Cape Cod League's Brewster Whitecaps from 2002-03, Porter graduated from Thayer Academy (Mass.) and Bowdoin College with a degree in history. While at Bowdoin, he was the captain of both the baseball and hockey teams.

As a former collegiate player and Epstein protégé with more than a decade in scouting who was part of four World Series championship teams in 16 years, Porter will take on the challenge of turning the Mets around. His experience and versatility will certainly inspire optimism in Queens that he can help club president Sandy Alderson get the job done.