The Mets announced that they have hired Tony Tarasco as their first base coach. The New York City native will also oversee the Mets’ outfielders and baserunning.
The 50-year-old Tarasco carries extensive coaching experience with multiple organizations. He spent the previous five years with the Padres as their minor league performance and outfield/baserunning coordinator. Before that, Tarasco was with the Nationals organization for 10 years in various roles, including as their first base coach. But he’s likely best known for his run as a major league outfielder from 1993-2002. Tarasco spent the last of those seasons as a member of the Mets.
Now back with the Mets in a different role, Tarasco will take over for prior first base coach Tony DeFrancesco, who will remain with the organization as a senior advisor, player development and scouting. DeFrancesco managed the Mets’ Triple-A team from 2018-19 and was then a candidate for the big league managerial job last offseason. That position ultimately went to Luis Rojas, though DeFrancesco was part of his coaching staff in 2020.
Could you please sign a player. I don’t care if it’s a minor leaguer.
Why? Are they playing a game next week that the rest of us don’t know about?
I don’t have anything against Tarasco but this seems like a favor hire. You replace the former Triple-A head coach that was a candidate for manager with “a New York native” that has been on fringe assignments because of his playing days a long time ago? I could be wrong but if anyone else thought Tarasco was worth replacing a potential MLB manager/ triple-A head coach he would have been hired by another team a long time ago. Maybe Cohen just let him talk his ear off and convince him. Maybe Cohen just owes him a big favor.
He has 15 years of MLB front office/coaching experience. He spent the last 5 as a coach in pretty much this exact position. He played in the MLB for almost a decade. Nothing about this hire screams favoritism. If anything he seems like a better fit than the person who held it before him. It simply seems to me that he earned the position based on the fact that he was more than qualified to do the job.
**** Manager
It’s also possible that DeFrancesco asked for a different role and the Mets needed to fill that spot.
I’m just bored. I don’t care if the Braves trade for trout. I just really want something to happen.
Hahah! That was a really solid comeback MetsFan22. I can’t even say ish. You’re right.
Don’t get so down. You’re team is gonna do some big things and this isn’t the NBA or NFL. Signings happen throughout the offseason. It’s actually better because you can analyze every signing more. What’s the point of it all happening at once so nobody cares about 80% of the moves? MLB has such better analysis because of that. I get you though. Nobody is trading for Trout and the fact that as a Mets fan you liked that idea shows how much your hurting. I feel for you. I’m waiting on the news, too.
Would you be less bored if Atlanta traded for salmon? haddock? cod? 😀
Yeah you’re right. Mlb offseasons always have been slow. Nothing wrong with that. Just hope something happens soon lol.
Maybe Tim Salmon? He played outfield for the Angels, too. Is he making a comeback!!!!!
Kevin Bass?
Or Randy Bass
The New York Mets have announced the contract purchase of minor leaguer Tim Tebow.
I know that I am an impatient Met fan, but after 50+ years of following them, this off-season has been incredibly frustrating. Stevie Cohen is having a lot of fun, making friends with fans, but he’s still a businessman who will not spend his hard-earned (?) money frivolously. We’ll be lucky to sign Springer and a couple of seconds level starters. Bauer is a head case and is pricing himself as if he has a stellar track record. He does not. I would not sign him to more than a 3-4 year contract for more than 30 AAV.
I agree.. Mets fan thinking we will sign everyone will be disappointed. I think it will be springer and some more pieces on the pitching staff but nothing crazy.
Yeah. After hearing Springer’s demands of $150 million and Bauer’s demands of $36-40 million a year for 6 years…I wouldn’t pay those guys that either. Even if I have Cohen money to blow I am staying under the draft pick penalty. Not to mention…. does anyone believe Bauer will be a “best player in baseball” for the next 5 or 6 years? He’s not Jacob deGrom and never was. There are usually better ways to spend money if it is that much. Teams are better off drafting players and extending them if Bauer is gonna cost that much more than deGrom. Those numbers aren’t even close. That’s like paying Bauer $100 million more to be deGrom’s #2. That’s almost an insult to deGrom. Springer is going on 32 years old. $150+ million is insane. Maybe DJL? He still wants too much for what he’s worth. All these guys want Mike Trout $ when they know they aren’t even close to Mike Trout. What happened to the guys like Freddie Freeman who are vocally open to taking a pay cut so ownership will let the GM hire more players because Freeman wants the team to win now?
Freddie freeman is still the first baseman for the three time nl east champs Atlanta Braves. In case you were wondering what happened to him.
Players who take “hometown discounts” are the exception not the rule. Why should they take less when owners are constantly devising ways to hold down pre-FA player salaries? If drafting talent and retaining is so easy, you would see more deals like Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies.
Agreed. I wouldn’t sign either of them for those figures. Someone made the point the J.D. Martinez made that with options and that Springer is much more valuable than him (because he plays a position). That logic is hard to argue with, but the question remains, can they overcome the Braves by tossing money at free agents? There’s very little evidence to suggest that Spring/Bauer put them over the top here.. They could get by by adding one outfielder, two starting pitchers, and one more good reliever and be as competitive.
As a life long fan, I’d love to see them sign Springer, but until it happens, there will skepticism. I think it’s a residual psychological effect of the Wilpon management team’s unwillingness to go that extra mile to build consistent contenders..
Springer over Bauer, but if he doesn’t come off of $150M, I say let Toronto have him.
We have signed minor leaguers. I’m really interested in seeing how that reliever from Atlanta bounces back. He was really good before getting hurt.
I think MLB is causing delays in FA signings by not saying if DH will be in NL. Only pitchers being signed 1st. Make a decision already. Osuna hanging in suspense whether to stay in NL.
MLB has told NL teams to operate under the assumption that there will not be a DH… That was over a month ago
The next post will be Mets increasing hotdog price in the stadium
It’s funny because it’s true!
As long as it’s not the nachos. That’s the only good thing there.
“Mets nacho vendor signs with Doosan Bears”
Dude… That’s bad news. Have you ever had Mets nachos??? I haven’t but I heard they were really gross. Like Really, really gross. So gross in the way you have to try them just to say you ate something that gross. I’m pretty sure that’s where most of the Mets revenue comes from. You know… people wanting to try out gross things. If they lose him… It’s over for sure.
I’m more of a Shake Shack guy but a $1 increase isn’t going to make much of a difference for a $15 burger.
They’ve added about $5 to the filet mignon sandwiches out in CF over the last 5 years. The lines have gotten longer for them. Concessions prices won’t matter for the choices of great food at the park.
Hopefully Cohen can bring back Keith’s Grill, though!
Sadly, Tarasco’s career highlight was being in RF with the Orioles for Jeffery Maier’s infamous fan interference that was ruled a Home Run for Derek Jeter during the 1996 ALCS
Wasn’t Tarasco caught smoking weed on Roosevelt Ave. outside Shea one evening?
Pretty sure it was him and grant roberts
Grant Roberts: another Next Great Mets pitcher who fizzled out. His girlfriend posted a picture of him taking a hit from a bong as I recall.
And Bobby Valentine subsequently did an impression of a stoned player in the batters box?
Will Tarasco have Jeffrey Maeir to assist him?
if only they signed Tony Tabasco instead
That guy is on a long hot streak!
But he can’t lay off the sauce
He’s got a quite a fiery temper.
I have a burning notion that you are all correct. To be frank, it’s red hot.
I’m surprised to hear such about Torasco. As we know, the Mets didn’t have a are running coach in quite a while and Torasco was a pretty good base runner. Plus, someone needs to teach Rosario how to get from first base to second base on a pitched ball because he has no idea. The Nats have been very good base runners and I’m glad to take their coach.
Rosario still needs to figure out how to get to first base
Exactly!! I really hope Gimenez is the starting shortstop in 2021.
DeFrancesco was in the A’s organization for years and was the manager for their AAA teams that enjoyed a lot of success. DeFrancesco was brought up to be the 3rd base coach for the A’s in 2008 and was promptly “reassigned” at the end of the season.
Crazy story. I visited Citi Field wearing my Sacramento River Cats t-shirt when his brother-in-law approached me in the team’s Hall of Fame to introduce himself. DeFrancesco was the River Cat’s manager then and only my shirt made the connection between us. No one else in NY was wearing such a shirt. Now DeFrancesco works for that very team where I met his brother-in-law. Circle of life.
People forget to write that Tony D is A local boy, too. Bornin New York, caught at Seton Hall University. Signed by the Red Sox, played in New Britain CT for their AA team. Familiar with the TriStae area there. But a loyal and smart organization man. He may have managed Srpinger too when he was AAA Astros Manager. Good guy.
Things a little slow in Met World when this news is front and center. Though I’m a Phillies fan, I think the Mets are gonna win the NL East this year if they can avoid the one thing that derails the each year: Injuries!
Make that prediction a slam dunk if the Mets somehow get Linder and Springer. Gonna be a good summer of baseball for NY-ers unless Mayor “De-Blasto” doesn’t rain on your parade and for bans you from going to games. Yankees chances looking better since Rays are dumping. Might be a Subway Series come October.
25 years later id still be out there protesting and arguing that call…almost as bad as this past election
This dude rakes and hits bombs.