The Mets have landed two new assistant general managers to serve under new baseball operations leader Brodie Van Wagenen. Allard Baird will become vice president and assistant GM of scouting and player development, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). And Adam Guttridge will step in as assistant GM of systematic development, Jon Heyman of Fancred tweets.
Baird comes over from the Red Sox, where he had been the senior VP of player personnel. He previously interviewed for the Mets’ GM opening back in 2010. The former Royals GM (Dayton Moore’s predecessor) recently turned 57 years of age.
Needless to say, having been in Boston dating back to the Theo Epstein regime, Baird is a respected veteran front office member. He got his start in a coaching and scouting capacity but moved into an upper-level role when he became the K.C. AGM back in 1998. His opinion has been an important one with the Red Sox; as the organization puts it in its own front office directory, Baird is (was) “a key voice on all player personnel decisions for the club.”
As for Guttridge, he’ll presumably be tasked with building out a top-of-the-line analytics unit in Queens. As Anthony Rieber of Newsday writes, the 33-year-old has an extensive background in statistical evaluation. He has most recently operated NEIFI Analytics, a company that sells its analysis to MLB clubs and bills itself as offering “a logically consistent and empirically validated view of the baseball landscape from the major leagues all the way down to the NCAA.”
These moves, taken together, represent notable additions for Van Wagenen. His top lieutenants would seem to be of particular importance given his own lack of experience working in (let alone running) a baseball ops department. It’s not yet full certain what other senior voices will remain on hand. Former GM Omar Minaya is expected to stay, but the fate of long-time AGM John Ricco has yet to be decided. Previously, J.P. Ricciardi departed the Mets organization.
Is this building a foundation for a rebuild?
Why a rebuild? Seems like they’re both just good organizational brains, regardless of where the team is at. Baird hasn’t been rebuilding in Boston in recent years.
The Braves and Phillies appear to be taking huge strides this offseason and I just wonder how much ammunition the Mets actually have that can translate into a perennial contender. I am quite ignorant of the Met’s organizational depth, but the product they put on the field last season left little to be desired.
I think the last ranking of farm systems put the Mets at #19. They have a very uneven farm system. They have graduated a number of former prospects over the past two years, so they have a gap now in regard to top talent at AA and AAA. They have some very promising prospects in the lower minors, but they are thin for attractive near MLB ready prospects. Pete Alonso is likely their best MLB ready bat stuck in the minors, as the org held him back for another year of control. Frankly, he is a much more attractive prospect to AL teams because he will be limited to 1B in the NL. .Gimenez has a lot of upside too. He is a toolsy slick fielding SS with nice upside at the plate. I like Peterson, who is a projected mid-rotation control pitcher. He is a bit under the radar outside of the org, but I think he’ll continue to improve. Dunn could be a closer or possibly a starter.
I wish the Mets had half of the young arms the Braves have in their system, at least the one near MLB ready. I think the Mets are very fortunate that Nimmo was able to translate his minor stats to the big show. He was in the top 8-10 in OPS for much of 2018 and should have made the all-star team, They also converted back-end starters with promise (Lugo & Gsellman) to pretty effective multi-inning relievers. Lugo demonstrated his talent at the WBC, but Gsellman snuck up on people but faltered a bit later in the season.
It’s an outside the box hiring for sure but if he succeeds they look like geniuses and if he fails they have egg on their face. How much worse could they look? They need to be unconventional because no real GM would want to work for the Wilpons
If I remember correctly the Braves won quite a few division titles in the Glavin,Smoltz,Maddox era, but despite the talent they had, their production in the Post Season left little to be desired.
Dont put your champagne on ice yet because guess what..
there are still 162 games that have to be played.
Terrific hires.
Mets still need a hitting coach btw
“Did I get anything else?”, as the freshly opened christmas toy falls to the floor in search of another…
The NY Post had a blurb the other day saying the Mets are looking at Chili Davis, Dave Magadan and Rudy Jaramillo.
Two of whom worked under Baird
Looking at Chili Davis right now.
Dan O’Dowd, whose one of the brighter ones out there, was effusive in his praise of Guttridge, so that works for me. Baird has proven to be in Boston what folks in KC knew about him; a tireless worker who maybe just shouldn’t sit in the main chair.
Seems to be a couple of pretty good hires. Guttridge is a “numbers” guy; Baird a bit more traditional in his approach. The best move Theo ever made in Boston was to realize the job was too big for him, and he surrounded himself with some highly capable people. Seems like Brody’s doing the same.
As a shell shocked Mets fan, I am pleasantly optimistic.
Wow. I actually like these hires.
What a mess. Why hire someone with no experience?
They’re cheap…it’s the Wilpons way.
Because it’s hard to lure away people currently employed and most former (fill in the blank) don’t have a job for a good reason?
I should think most Mets fans would be glad they stopped hiring retreads for a change
Like Jeff’s article stated, @Ken_Rosenthal tweeted:
“Baird’s title with the Mets will be Vice President/Assistant GM of Scouting and Player Development.”
Interesting title! I like it even though, don’t like the Mets
Mets business as usual. People praise the moves. Mets fans think their franchise saviors have arrived. Eventually the guys fail. Mets fans and media bash them until they’re gone. New “saviors” come in, and the cycle starts again. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The only thing that can be taken in these moves or any future moves, is that even a blind squirrel will eventually find a nut. At some point you’ve got to think that the Mets will eventually hire people that are competent. When? Who knows.
In some alternate universe, the Mets just won every game of regular & postseason.
This universe sucks.
So …these guys have failed already how, exactly?
I haven’t said that they’ve already failed. I’m just pointing out that this is the same routine. There is not one thing that I’ve stated above that is incorrect with how everything has gone for the Mets ever since the late 1980s.
As opposed to the visionary, forward thinking, professional way the Marlins have been run over the years?
Last I checked…1997 and 2003 versus 1986 (7 years before the Marlins even existed).
I guess you hadn’t noticed who the NL representative was in the 2015 World Series. MIA hasn’t hasn’t sniffed the postseason in 15 years.
Yeah, I guess everyone always remembers the runner-up – not the champions.
The one certainty is that ownership’s lack of commitment and competence will cause optimism to diminish as stupidity and frugality come to the forefront.
Speaking of stupidity, we can always count on a useless post from you.
You should focus on your loser franchise Miami Marlins. But thanks just the same for your unsolicited opinion.
Yep, the Marlins are the loser franchise.
2 championships just like the Mets in far far far far less years of existence, while spending far far far far less money.
Many other accomplishments that surpass the Mets in far far far far less years of existence.
Yeah, the Marlins are a loser franchise while the Mets are clearly the definition of the type of excellence that every franchise should stride for.
Like I said, focus on your losers
So you don’t want me to pay attention to your loser franchise? Can you let the NY media that because they always want the NY and Boston teams in the spotlight for the rest of us to see.
Besides, when I feel bad about my Marlins, why can’t I look at the Mets for some comfort in knowing that there are teams in worst condition.
“Can you let the NY media that because they always want the NY and Boston teams in the spotlight for the rest of us to see.”
there are teams in “worst”condition.
…there are teams in “worst” condition
Sorry, but whatever you do, I hope you dont take comfort in your unintelligible writing either. No surprise you’d be a Marlins fan.
Sorry, I dont understand incomplete sentences.
“Let the NY media that because…”
Sorry…typos….
Can you TELL the NY media that because they always want the NY and Boston teams in the spotlight for the rest of us to see.
There are teams in worse condition.
Comprende?
“Previously, J.P. Ricciardi departed the Mets organization.”
The New York Mets have taken a huge step in the right direction by the loss of one of the worst GMs in baseball history. Ricciardi should be donated at least half his paycheque to Oakland for making him out to be better than he really was/is.
Mets still needs a hitting coach
Mets still need a hitting coach
I think the Mets still need a hitting coach.
Thank you sir
I can’t be sure, though… (For the record, I’m hoping for Chili Davis)
You do know he’s the one that oversaw the complete collapse of the Cubs offense this season, right?
Not sure why anyone would be high on him as a hitting coach right now
Good point. However Chili is willing to work CHEAP and so once Feed finds out Wagon Wheel will be told to sign him
Take responsibility for your failures