The Mets will interview former big league first baseman Eduardo Perez as part of their managerial search, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (via Twitter). Perez joins former Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, former big league outfielder Carlos Beltran, D-backs director of player development Mike Bell and Twins bench coach Derek Shelton as known candidates to replace recently fired manager Mickey Callaway.

Perez, 50, hasn’t yet been reported as a strong candidate elsewhere this winter, but he was mentioned last offseason during the searches conducted by both the Blue Jays and, to a lesser extent, the Reds. Hiring Perez wouldn’t be all that dissimilar from the Yankees’ hiring of Aaron Boone; like Boone was at the time of his hire, Perez is currently an analyst at ESPN (as well as an analyst for MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM). It’d perhaps be a somewhat outside-the-box move, but the Mets certainly didn’t shy away from that last winter in naming former agent Brodie Van Wagenen their general manager.

And it’s also worth noting that unlike Boone, Perez does have prior Major League coaching experience. Back in 2011-12, he served as the Marlins’ hitting coach back in 2011-12, and he was also the Astros’ bench coach in 2013 before leaving the staff prior to the 2014 season and citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Perez also managed winter ball clubs in Puerto Rico from 2008-09 as well as Team Colombia in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

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