The Mets intend to hire a general manager by the World Series, but it may take significantly longer for the organization's choice to turn the team into a contender. After three days of conversations with GM candidates, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon told Dan Martin of the New York Post that top executives believe the team needs some work.
"They all know the reality of where we are," Wilpon told reporters. "It's not a bad perception, but they understand the reality."
The Mets don't have a manager under contract for 2011, but they'll wait to hire a GM before choosing a skipper. Once Wilpon and other Mets executives decide between Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, Logan White and others, selecting a manager will become a priority.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that Alderson has an excellent relationship with owner Fred Wilpon and definitely wants the Mets to hire him (Twitter links).
The new GM will also have to determine whether to pursue Hisanori Takahashi, who can become a free agent at the end of the month. Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes on a Japanese report indicating that Takahashi seeks a two-year deal and would prefer to remain with the Mets (Twitter link). MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested last month that Takahashi could seek a two-year deal worth $2.5MM per season plus incentives.
“Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon told Dan Martin of the New York Post that top executives believe the team needs some work.” Wow that is a gigantic understatement.
Just need to shed some bad contracts. After 2011, they have 57 million coming off the books…so how much work is really needed? The team isn’t going to be competitive next year so…
That’s sort of the problem. The Mets will never have a traditional “rebuilding” season. It’s always one foot in, one foot out.
Do we really need a post every day or so solely focused on the Mets’ GM search? I don’t see any other teams with openings getting that kind of exclusive coverage.
In addition to @Wonderboy’s observation, I do know it’s important to keep readership up so that businesses with ads here can have the widest exposure possible, AND a reason to continue placing their ads. So, frequently reporting rumors about a team with a sizeable (and desperate) fan base could also be a way of keeping the readership up in times when there’s less news.As part of that “desperate” fan base, may I say that every day I log on hoping for SOME crumb that might provide SOME hint of actual meaningful change….hopefully….maybe….(pretty please?!). So at times like this it’s ‘suckers’ like me that help keep this website rolling. Sorry ’bout that. :p
Yes… NYC is a big market with more fans than your team.
Yes… NYC is a big market with more fans than your team.
Keeping Takahashi at the numbers discussed here seem reasonable given his success and ability to fill multiple roles.
Alderson is by far the best choice, with Hahn good fall back. We don’t need a 5 year rebuild plan, but new gm will need to convince Wilpon’s to leverage the Mets big market position either at the 2011 trade deadline or next off season