The Mets’ wide-open managerial hunt appears to be narrowing. Eduardo Perez is now seen as the “clear front runner” to earn the gig, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).
It isn’t clear what Perez needs to do to lock down the position, but he’s among the relatively large number of candidates to receive a second interview. Former star Carlos Beltran, Twins bench coach Derek Shelton, and Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas are among those who’ve had multiple chats with the New York organization’s decisionmakers.
Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar is another name in the running. He is said to have impressed in his second sit-down, per Andy Martino of SNY.tv (Twitter link), though it may not be enough to land the job unless something gums up Perez’s candidacy.
Naturally, there are also still hints of mystery candidates floating around. And it’d be foolhardy to make any assumptions until an announcement is made. But it certainly sounds as if Perez is angling to take the reins.
Perez features impeccable baseball bloodlines, polished communication ability, and experience as a bench coach. He has managed in Puerto Rican winter ball and has an extremely varied background in the game. Perez would follow Aaron Boone in moving from the media realm into the big seat in a New York dugout.
Jeez. It’s hard to be a Mets fan.
@BobbyVwannabe,
Not really. It’s all about perspective. Hard is being homeless.. Hard is having terminal illness.
Speaking as someone whose been Mets fan for 50 years, I see a lot fans making moehills into mountains and getting swept into fan and media mob-like mentality, with concocted conspiracy theories, and self-inflicted drama.
As a Mets guy since the early 70’s, I totally agree. The perpetually unhappy crowd, alternately, amuses and confounds me.
At least the Mets are trying. The Braves will finish in 4th place next year with the same terrible manager. In fact, the culprit of Brave’s failure in the last 2 decades is “the Braves way” approach. Never worked, never will. They are holding on to Snitker, no different from when they held on to their other overrated manager, Cox.
How can you possibly think the Braves will finish 4th? They dominated the division. The playoffs is a crapshoot. They lost to a tough series, but there still a great team. They could have easily been in the World Series.
Forgive my horrific typing and grammar. *They lost a tough series, but they’re still a great team.
No rotation, below average bottom of the lineup, no bullpen heading into 2020. No reason to believe they will add anything of significance to improve next year. Losing to the worst team in the playoffs, Cardinals only proves this team is not good enough.
Yea. Snitker is the worst in baseball.
Tell the BBWA. They just elected him to their 2nd consecutive NL Manager of the year.
Hey Bum-Braves finish ahead of the Muts. And if Philly continues its spending spree (read Wheeler as one example), the Mets stand to finish out of the wild card again.
Anyone who thinks Zack Wheeler is a difference maker deserves what they get.
He will When he’s not on the Mets.
Wah wah wah. You realize the other manager is trying to manage well, too? Did Snitker give up 10 runs in the 1st inning? Braves ran the NL east in 2019, Washington was just hotter at the right time. I swear, fans always think they have it bad, whether their team has 60 wins or 100 wins.
Hahahah
Snitker is a perfectly fine manager. He got them about as far as they were gonna go with that bullpen. And Bobby Cox is one of the greatest of all time.
Well bumgarner is just flat wrong…
I hope your not serious. I’m a mets fan the braves will be at the top of the standings by the end of 2020. Mets will be competitive so will the gnats
What are you whining about? The Braves have a terrific core of young players.
What? They’re taking their time to find a coach that fits. What’s wrong with Perez? As a Mets fan, I’d be happy with him. He’s smart, young, and an excellent communicator. I do not understand the ridiculous comments on every single Mets article.
I agree. He’s been around the game his whole life, has experience managing (not MLB level, but better than none at all, and has coached there) and as you noted, smart and a good communicator. Certainly like him better than Beltran or Dusty.
Why do some so-called baseball fans call a manager a coach. Managers manage & coaches are on coaching staff. This isn’t football.
Awesome. Eduardo came to mind to me early as to why the Mets weren’t talking to him. Pleasant surprise when they added him to interviews and even better if he gets the job.
@sodakcox,
Perez has curb appeal, would provide an interesting and varied background in the game, baseball smarts and excellent communication skills.
First
But you’re not listed first on the app.
Conspiracy!
you mean censorship? (sarcasm)
Only X could be first without being first.
upvote.
do not miss that clown.
I do.
Id trade you for him in a heartbeat.
Congrats man! Now stare out your front window and wait for the UPS guy to deliver your trophy!
which will be stolen right under his nose!
By the Steinbrenners. Just like they steal all the Mets headlines and glory!
I hope he gets the job.
I’m becoming a Ray’s fan
Come on down. Plenty of seats.
LOL!
The guy who mumbles on ESPN broadcasts?
Who’s is ESPN going to hire to replace him and Ross.
Brandon Taubman – wouldn’t even need to mic him.
Canseco and Chris Correa. Need to keep bringing in the cheaters and glorfifying them like AROD, SHEFFIELD etc
I agree with you I can’t stand arod hes a terrible announcer too.
I used to love the sunday night baseball. Mendoza is the only person on it now I like. Hell, the only person I can tolerate even.
@Matt
Stanton!!
It should be mandatory that Heidi Whatley is on every MLB telecast, no matter what the network.
Agreed
she’s an angel
More like the guy who talks like he’s got a heck of a perpetual sinus cold going on…his nasal speech can drive you wild after a while….
Perez HAS at least been a Bench Coach and Managed in the World Classic and been inside and around the game his whole life.
Would LOVE to see him bring in his father as his Bench Coach, if not maybe a former manager to help guide him through his initial season.
Tony and Regan on the same staff? Might as well bring Felix Mantilla aboard.
Nightengale is always wrong
So is USA Today……
On just about everything.
They have a nice color weather map though.
They should just hire an agent to manage
Hire Scott Boras lol
Smart move. He’s played for many top managers, LaRussa, Piniella, McKeon, Hargrove. He knows the modern game from his work at ESPN. Bilingual. Good camera presence and well spoken, so press shouldn’t be an issue. Solid choice.
Wow. I was certain it would be Beltran. Maybe that’s because of all the MLBTR subliminal messages where they only show Beltran’s picture when discussing Mets managerial candidates. Damn you MLBTR and your subliminal lies! This isn’t the same Eddie Perez who used to be a catcher for the Braves, is it?
No, ESPN analyst. Eddie Perez is currently the Braves bullpen coach and has long been considered a manager in waiting partially because him being Greg Maddux’s catcher and his ability to call games.
Eddie Perez is the modern-day Bobby Dews. He’ll be out in that Braves bullpen till he’s 70.
That eddie perez is from Venezuela this Perez is from puerto rico
They wanted a puppet. They got a puppet.
You strived to be an idiot. You achieved. Congratulations, fine sir.
They should hire Ugeth Urbina. He would set that clubhouse on fire.
I don’t even know who Eduardo Perez is, but Showalter should have been give a chance to interview for this job. Oddly enough, I think he would have been a good fit here.
Oh well
His father played first base for the Reds in the Big Red Machine.
If you want to know who Eduardo Perez is, maybe you can start by reading this very article or googling him. 13 year career, been around the game for decades, Hall of famer for a father.
Great, Didn’t like his work for ESPN.
He’ll bring Rick Sutcliffe along as his pitching coach.
I would give him a chance if I was a Mets fan. At this point, they lost the best candidate Joe Girardi. Perez seems a good candidate to take the job.
May as well. We ain’t going anywhere til Cano’s contract is gone anyway.
…contract year….
Back to Los(t) Mets again. More garbage to enjoy for a couple years til we fire him and get another scrub.
Borderline bigoted comment. Congrats.
Borderline SJW statement. Congrats.
Calling someone out for making a racist comment about the number of latino players on the Mets makes me an SJW? Sorry, old man, I’ll get off your lawn.
As you leave my lawn, here is some ointment for your inflamed red butt. Get a clue, race baiter.
How about Jason Giambi?
Remember towards the end of his career and Giambi was a name who kept coming up as a manager in waiting and think he even interviewed for the Rockies gig a few years back.
Would rather have his brother Jeremy. Would keep the clubhouse interesting.
Disappointed. I wont pass judgment but he better be able to handle a pitching staff.
Ouch sorry Met fans. It was always a nightmare to listen to him call games on espn. Beltran is the better option
What does his ability (or lack of) to call games on tv have to do with his ability to manage, which he’s already garnered experience at?
Ask Jon Gruden how being a fun listen translates to being a successful leader.
They always go for the cheapest manager , this guy has no managerial experience being a tv analysts doesn’t make you a good manager and being a player and manger are two different things just really stupid if they hire this guy smh
No MLB managing experience but he has it elsewhere. I think he’ll be a very good manager.
Beltran all the way. Perezis a horrible tv analyst so he won’t be a good manager
Sweet! Please get him off of Sirius MLB Network Radio. He’s freaking terrible!
Omg he’s by far the worst! I’m glad I’m not the only one here
If you mean the know it all Girardi you are right. He was the worst announcer ever.
At least it will get him out of the broadcast booth. I wonder if any teams will consider Joe Buck.
Ick
Leave it to my Mets to focus on 2nd class candidates like Bogar, Perez, and Shelton. Why no Quartraro or Espada if you want a first timer? Much rather hire Beltran than any of those first 3 mentioned. Leave to the Mets “leadership” to screw this up royally.
I’d take Wes Westrum in his current state before strike three looking, only good in my contract Beltran.
Good because he’s a terrible analyst on MLB radio lol
Who?
They fire Calloway and they want another manager with no experience. Why not go with Showalter or Hurdle or somebody with experience. I couldnt imagine being a Mets fan now.
Seems like a Good yes man to Brodie.
But with a lot of talent. Like they have. And they turned it around last year.
I could see the Mets fighting for 86-90 wins next year regardless of manager. . .
We’re screwed
Appears he came off better in the interview than he does on broadcasts…
another No Body..cheap fuc-ing Mets..let the top manager go to Philly and they wont even interview Buck or Dusty..I’m done as a Mets fan…wont see me at Citi Field again
FYI, you wont be missed. At all.
You wanted Dusty? He makes Callaway look like a bullpen savant.
Of all the TV announcers getting jobs, I’m puzzled why Mark DeRosa’s name hasn’t been brought up. Met fans would fall in love with this guy. Tough North Jersey guy who QBed Penn’s football team to Ivy league titles. Had a very nice MLB career and was a plus-plus asset on each team he played for.
Mets have a great talent base and excellent starting pitchers. If they can keep McNeill and Nimmo healthy this year to go along with Alonso, JD Davis and Conforto, they will score a lot of runs.
Met fans, I would rather be you than me (Phillies fan). You think your team is dysfunctional? Hop on the train and come on down and watch a few Phillies games at CBP. We strike out too much; suck with RISP and only have one legitimate starting pitcher (Nola). You’ll go home thinking World Series for your Mets.
Sure didn’t see this one coming. Good for him. Interesting that so many are using his broadcast skills to qualify him (or not) as a manager. How does one impact the other? Using this logic, Bill Belichick would have never got a NFL head coaching job.
If you listen to his analysis on MLB radio, you come away unimpressed with his excuse making for players and his ability to make a coherent point. Very likeable guy. You would be getting the Puerto Rican Mickey Calloway.
All i ask for is just for the Mets to be normal. Stop with the crap of “ thinking outside the box” If they can just operate like a normal team, a team that is #6 in revenue.
Even if Diaz was Diaz from a year ago, why would anyone want Cano’s contract at his age and coming off of a drug suspension.
To win you need talent on the field , in the line up and on the mound … a good manager will help but without talented and some above average talent in all facets of the game the Mets will always just be treading water and repeating this cycle each off season and season … so let’s get ourselves a good manager but let’s not spend big bucks on old worn down best days behind us big names big prospects , let’s go get some talent and players who can get it done !
Espada would’ve been a better choice
All good with Perez here in Flushing. Hope they make it official!
Two reasons NOT to hire Eduardo Perez:
1. His father was a dreadful manager
2. His name is actually Eduardo Perez Perez