Yesterday we learned that the Mets would not retain GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel beyond this season, unsurprising moves to say the least. Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports that Minaya was told of his fate yesterday, but he wonders if owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon are willing to hire someone that will be brutally honest in his assessments and give him autonomy.
Former Indians and Rangers GM John Hart has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Minaya, and he of course has an impressive track record of rebuilding teams from the ground up through the farm system. Former Met pitcher Jerry Dipoto has also been mentioned as a candidate after losing out on the Diamondbacks job. Sherman also says former Athletics GM Sandy Alderson and current Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Gerry Hunsicker are strong candidates.
Whoever the Mets hire will have their work cut out for them. Manuel and presumably his coaching staff will need to be replaced, and a team that has gone 148-174 over the last two seasons despite over $275MM in combined payroll will need an overhaul. Johan Santana will miss at least part of 2011 after shoulder surgery, and the contracts of Carlos Beltran, Francisco Rodriguez, Luis Castillo, and Oliver Perez ($48MM in salary next year) could prove to be untradeable. Time to vote…
Who should the Mets hire as their next GM?
Click here to vote in the poll, and here to see the results.
If John Hart gets it, would he still be on MLB Tonight?
Omar Minaya would take his place.
It’s at this point I would stop watching 30 clubs in 30 days.
I like John Hart for the job, but his track record of success might not jive with the Wilpons’ hands-on ownership style. He’d likely have to be given clear understanding where the Wilpons’ influence would end (likely after a budget is set) and be allowed to do his job without additional interference.
John Hart would likely surprise with a managerial pick — he’s not as invested in the ’86 Mets reunion as ownership is, so we could probably scratch Backman off the list.
I call dibs!!
The job is mine!!
Why not Kim Ng, the Dodgers’ Assistant GM? Conversations about her usually end up disintegrating into the pros and cons of a woman GM, but the fact is, she’s well-thought-of, progressive, and has been touted as a potential big market GM for years.
I was actually just thinking that. I know she’s been on a few radars for a while now. I really would have thought she’d have a GM position by now.
If the silly Wilpons insist on being knee deep in the team then they might as well not hire a GM and just do it themselves, because they are that franchises biggest problem.
bingo!
Logan White anyone?
I doubt the big-name guys like Hart or Alderson would take the job without some kind of written assurance that the Wilpons would stay hand’s-off.
Whoever is the next GM must by definition be someone who is able to stand up to the Wilpons, and hold his ground.
Me… I would do a better job than Manuel
Of course you would. Jerry Manuel isn’t the GM.
“A Young Progressive type not listed”
Does he mean Jon Daniels??
I think Josh Brynes will get the job.
I voted for John Hart because I’d like to see him get the job. He’s had success in the past and seems capable of handling the job, Minaya came off as a bumbling fool even when things went well. My real answer to the question is, “I have no idea.”
IMO Isiah Thomas would be perfect for the job
Pat Gillick.
If the Mets are serious about making changes in the front office, they gotta make these moves:-Fire Jeff Wilpon as COO or have him “reassigned” -Hire Rick Hahn as the new Mets General Manager-Bring in Pat Gillick as President of Baseball Operations-Bring in Sandy Alderson as Vice President of Baseball Operations-Retain Minaya as part of the scouting team for the Mets. I have to admit, I like the nucleus of guys in his tenure that he’s brought in the farm system (Niese, Gee, Cohoon, Vaughn, Tejada, Davis, Thole, Duda, Nieuwenhuis, Ratliff, etc.)
Number 1 might be the most painful move for Fred Wilpon to do.
I vote Steve Phillips. He’s got a scout’s eye for young talent outside the organization and is a familiar face New York can love and trust.
John Hart. He knows how to blow it up and start over. Give the young players a full year under their belt, while keeping a competitive team. They probably would want to keep one of Wright/Reyes, but if they truly want to rebuild, they will get an advanced prospect package in return for one of them.
I know NY is a tough city to do this in, but you couldn’t be too upset if they fielded a team similar to this and saved themselves a lot of money:
C Thole
1B Davis
2B Arias
SS Tejada
3B Wright
LF Bay
CF Pagan
RF Martinez
This would be a competitive young team with the fan favorite Wright and a big advanced prospect return (likely would need to be pitching heavy) for Jose Reyes. Wilmer Flores should be ready within 2 years or so and he can take over SS from Tejada then. Trading Beltran would save them some money too. They would likely have to eat half of his contract, but 9 million is savings is 9 million in savings. I bet they could do the same thing with Luis Castillo, saving them another 2-3 million.
What the hell do you want a “progressive” GM for? And what does that mean? Relief pitchers will take a Prius to the mound from the bullpen? The Mets need winners — the “progressive” crap is childish and meaningless. The Mets hired a Latino GM, Latino asst. GM, and back to back black managers — what did that do? Willy Randolph had never managed before — Dusty Baker challenged his double-switch in his 2nd game and both players were out of the game because the guy didn’t even know how to make a double switch and had someone even stupider than him (Sandy Alomar Sr.) as his bench coach. That’s was the Met’s “progressive year.” Who cares how green the Mets are, they need to win, and it’s not going to happen by giving someone their first shot. Been there, done that.
What the hell do you want a “progressive” GM for? And what does that mean? Relief pitchers will take a Prius to the mound from the bullpen? The Mets need winners — the “progressive” crap is childish and meaningless. The Mets hired a Latino GM, Latino asst. GM, and back to back black managers — what did that do? Willy Randolph had never managed before — Dusty Baker challenged his double-switch in his 2nd game and both players were out of the game because the guy didn’t even know how to make a double switch and had someone even stupider than him (Sandy Alomar Sr.) as his bench coach. That’s was the Met’s “progressive year.” Who cares how green the Mets are, they need to win, and it’s not going to happen by giving someone their first shot. Been there, done that.
But it would also take balls to sign her in a traditionally “all boy club” like the MLB. Now does that sound like the Wilpons to you? :-p
Zing
Wasn’t it a member of the Mets’ brass who famously said racist/sexist stuff to her? What a way to show you’re shaking things up–hire the person your staff once slurred.
That would be masterful, but I doubt the Wilpons have the smarts enough to pull off such a progressive move.BTW, whenever asked about that incident she never mentions names. Ng is a class act.
Squeeze in a SENIOR VP like Sandy Alderson that believes in chain of command…and will have his own footprint on the team. Sandy from what i understand was the originator of Sabremetrics and is Billy Beane’s idol. Until u establish ACCOUNTABILITY and CHAIN OF COMMAND, replacing the GM/Manager is just window dressing.
I truly feel that no respectable manager or GM is going to take the job until that is established first. JEFF WILPON MUST GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!