Former Giants general manager Brian Sabean is interested in the Mets’ open president of baseball operations position, according to a report from Deesha Thosar of The New York Daily News. She says that he is looking for a new challenge and is “going stir crazy in San Francisco with essentially nothing to do” and would move to New York “in a heartbeat” if given the chance. It would be a semi-homecoming for him to come to New York, as he was a scout with the Yankees before joining the Giants.
Sabean was the general manager of the Giants from 1997 to 2014 and was an integral part of their magnificent run of play in the last decade, which included three World Series championships in five years, as they got to spray the champagne in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In 2015, Sabean was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations, with Bobby Evans becoming general manager and largely taking over the baseball decision making. In late 2018, Farhan Zaidi was hired as the Giants’ new president of baseball operations, with Sabean staying with the organization in an advisory capacity and doing some player scouting.
At the end of the 2019 season, there was some speculation that Sabean was being considered to join the Marlins organization to replace Michael Hill as that club’s president of baseball operations, though he ended up staying in San Francisco.
The fact that Sabean has such a lengthy track record would fit somewhat with previous reporting about the qualities the Mets are looking for in their next president. They have also been connected to experienced front office members such as Theo Epstein, Billy Beane and David Stearns. All three of those options appear to be dead-ends for the Mets, though, leaving the post open. However, the 65-year-old Sabean is also different than those three in some respects. Stearns is 36, Epstein 47 and Beane 59, making Sabean older than all three and significantly older than Stearns and Epstein. They’ve also all been actively participating in running baseball front offices in recent years, as opposed to Sabean, who has seemingly been operating in a fairly limited role for about seven years now.
Thosar’s report says it’s unclear if the Mets have reached out to Sabean. It’s also unclear if they’re willing to change their preferences to include someone like Sabean in their search. Although, considering that they keep crossing names off the top of their list, they may have to make adjustments to their preferences at some point.
Thosar also suggests that this could be a two-for-one deal, with Sabean’s hiring being followed by Bruce Bochy being brought in to take over the manager’s chair, which was recently left vacant when the Mets declined their option on Luis Rojas. Bochy was hired to manage the Giants in 2007, during Sabean’s time as general manager, and stayed through the 2019 season. He was recently rumored to be in consideration for the Padres’ open managerial position. Bochy is 66 years old and would buck the trend of teams hiring younger managers, though that trend has also been countered by the recent hirings of Tony La Russa (77) and Dusty Baker (72).
Anonymous source?!! C’mon
This guy actually seems like a pretty reasonable choice. I know he’s old but he’s at least been super successful and it seems like he was still pretty good last time he was a GM. If he can bring Bochy along that would be a plus for the Mets, too. I still feel pretty skeptical Bochy would century out of retirement to move across the country but hiring his old boss could help him make that decision.
Mets should be all over him. Sign him and Bruce Bochy as MGR. Bochy a former Mets
YES YES AND YES
Not old. Seasoned. Question for the Mets and any candidate is the direction they plan on going and does he fit. Analytics are driving many of us crazy and someone will hopefully soon buck the trend. How about a leader who will use analytics but also run an organization with the idea of making sure a team is trained/ready in all aspects of the game? Some situations going for a three run homer is appropriate but if the team is also able to beat the shift by bunting for a hit or situationally going opposite field where a player should have been, the defense will have to adjust thereby again creating space. The shift has always been part of the game but how many remember Papi when they first started it on him? When he was younger, he went opposite field (why not at Fenway?) and even dropped down a few bunts. While teams continued to shift, it became. few steps less.
In other words, a journalist protecting her source.
Interesting speculation on Sabean. But let’s not get carried away.
Who was the individual in San Diego, that permitted Bochy to speak to other teams – and Bochy was eventually lured away by Sabean?
That person releasing Bochy?
Sandy Alderson
Anonymous, just like when nfl emails get “leaked”.
Carton and Roberts on the afternoon drive on WFAN first spoke of the idea. Looks like prople listened.
I remember when Sabean was called the village idiot – when he traded Matt Williams then became best GM in Giants history
If he goes to mets….am sure he will do similar to spark the rest of team
The game has evolved past his style of GM
How has the game evolved past him? It hasn’t changed that much at all.
I can’t speak for the OP, but he’s probably talking about analytics, platooning, roster churning, and all of the things Zaidi has done to find success on the cheap.
The same way it passed Andy MacPhail
Sorry folks but the game will always continue to evolve. it needs leaders not more followers though. I’ve said it before. in the new CBA limit roster pitchers to 11 for the year 2023 or 2024. Allow time to train differently but force the direction a way from one power pitcher after another throwing so few pitches. They’ll adapt. Also, stop shortening the fence distance.
Not sure a blanket statement like “stop shortening the fence distance” makes much sense. No one knows how a new park will play until at least a few seasons of games are played. There aren’t too many fans that want to watch good hitters routinely fly out because the park is too pitcher-friendly.
And if there were a ban on moving the fences in, would there be one on moving fences out? Some band-boxed like in Cincy, and Philly, might be improved from moving them out. Moving in the fences at Petco, Comerica, and Oracle have made all those parks, not only better, but more fair.
Why are we assuming that people can’t evolve along with the times? Folks are capable of learning and adapting, you know.
I would want someone like Sabean who can spot talent, especially young talent, by looking at their raw skills. He has a scout’s mindset. These number crunching people should realize that it takes playing enough to begin to build statistically significant numbers in the first place. Sabean was instrumental in bringing the Core Four to the Yankees, and Posey Bumgarner and Belt to the Giants among others. That is the kind of guy i want directing the major league minor
League aNd scouting department of my team. Let the number crunchers present him the data, and then let his scouts and himself decide if the guy really can play
He wasn’t called the Village idiot.
There was huge fan fallout when he did that deal – I believe Ralph Barberie and rest of KNBR began the “village idiot” and expanded to Chronicle etc..
That “village idiot” thing died out when the Giants, after losing 94 games and finishing last in the division, with Matt Williams, won 90 and the division title the next season, after the trade. People can forget trading a fan favorite quickly, if it means turning a loser into a winner.
It took two seasons after the will ams and Royce Clayton trades ! The struggled the first season after but the following off season they traddd for jt snow and went on to the best record in the nl but where beat by those one year mercenary Marlins
Noel:
No, you’ve mixed it up. You’re half right though. Their division title in 97 was, as you say, 2 years after the Royce Clayton trade.
Matt Williams though was traded after the ’96 season. And it was the Williams trade that sparked the whole “village idiot” thing. Williams was traded mid-November ’96, and when they won the division less than a year later, the “village idiot” thing went away. It was short-lived.
Anyone is good. The talent is there
Anyone? Then you try running that cluster ****
I would be horrible lol. But better than most poster here! Lol
You almost had me in the first half of that comment
I like lego’s. Muppets won the Stanley cup!!!
If the talent is there, then why aren’t they winning?
The Mets’ 10-year $341MM cornerstone player slashed .230/.322/.412 and that doesn’t even make the top 10 list of embarrassing things to happen to that club this season.
Blah blah blah I bet you wish you had him on what ever team you root for id6
I get the schtick Mets fans are like only we get to call our own guys like Lindor over payed underachieving crap sacks !
if the talent is there then why should the GM have mattered prior to this upcoming season?
I guess you didn’t watch this season or last season or the season before that. The talent is not there and the wrong manager can screw it up even worse. Remember Mickey?
Ahhh yes, another MetsFan22 gem for us all to read. The equivalent statement of “I’m smarter than most posters here” statement demonstrating his widely excepted conceit to combine wonderfully with his lack of attachment to reality.
Let’s do it, especially if bochy comes along
I’d be willing to bet money, Bochy wants no part of Sandy, the ridiculous NY media, and a completely irrational fan base.
I think Sabean and Bochy ware too nice to tolerate the NY fan base. They are tough to please (not a bad thing IMHO) and Bochy has had heart issues in recent years.
What are you talking? He already pleased New Yorkers. The Mets would be a piece of cake for him?
@ Dr. Chim, I don’t know why he would. You know those ridiculous hot takes about whether Pujols was playing himself out of the HOF? That would start immediately for Bochy.
@Dr. agreed 100%. Boch won’t come out of retirement for that gig. He might get lured into managing the Friars if the price is right and the contract is short. I
Pass the game passed him by
Stearns is 36, Epstein 47 and Beane 59, making Sabean older than all three and significantly older than Stearns and Epstein.
Thank goodness that’s been cleared up.
That was funny. I’m wondering if they have a reading level that’s based on the analytics they receive.
Sounds like he’s pitching himself, but Cohen hasn’t called. He brought three World Series titles to San Francisco, and he got that job by helping build the Yankees farm system under Gene Michael that yielded the Core Four and others, and five World Series titles. How do you not talk to someone who directly and indirectly influenced 8 world championships?
Exactly, if he has interest, who are the Mets do say, “your resume, we’re not interested…”
They’ve interviewed who was available to talk, there’s a vacuum now as they wait on whomever of the remaining 4 teams front office personnel is on their list. So why not and maybe the better question is why do people keep withdrawing their name?
Hasn’t it only been two? The Brewers denied the Mets permission to speak to Stearns, unless that was cover for his not being interested, a theory I’ve only seen from the the worst of the Sandy-haters from aforementioned “irrational fanbase.” Beane withdrew because he decided he was happy with Oakland and did not want to relocate while it has been reported that Epstein, having won championships for two large-market teams, wants to build a team from scratch in which he has an ownership stake.
You guys really believe Beane withdrew because he didn’t want to move to New York? That’s funny. He has growing business interests in Europe. New York would be closer. The job probably would have bored him.
And he would go from part owner of Oakland to non-owner in NY, having to divest his Oakland shares…..
Giants74, I think that’s the point many miss with him. He likes his current baseball job, always has, but it’s also clear he’s angling for something bigger beyond running just another baseball team. He could have left Oakland nearly 20 years back for an even better job in Boston. Wasn’t interested then, why would he be interested now? He’ll leave the A’s eventually, but for something bigger that he wants.
Plumbing jokes aside, the A’s are an appreciating asset in a monopoly. Cohen couldn’t pay Beane enough and a starting point would be to match the equivalent value he currently owns. No way is Cohen coughing up shares he just bought and sell low.
@lord99 I think he already found it. He just bought a Dutch Soccer team. He is also part owner of an English team. They use Moneyball principles. It seems to have worked. For the first time in their history, the team advanced from the 2nd tier to the top tier.
lordd99,
You make too much sense and add Bochy MLB’s greatest manager and it’s a slam dunk!
Keep in mind it took him 13 years to bring a winner to the giants. Does the Mets fans have that kind of patience
No
Those fans are now at 35 years without a title
Definitely not. Some Mets fans are seemingly expecting a billion dollar payroll and five World Series Championships in the next 4 years.
Heh, that’s the thing… a lot of Met fans expect a billion dollar payroll and would basically declare victory once they get it- who needs actual victories, just give us a record breaking payroll.
And all the met haters are worried about the possibility of what this owner is going to do or how far he will go..lol
Complyeyetly agree with you here. Look at the Yankess, and Dodgers. Every year sreacthing and clawing barley making the playoffs. While the Ray’s just coast thru. He is just a BIG NAME that’s what the Mets want.
13 years? What are you talking about? More like a couple of years.
Keep in mind that’s a meaningless connection.
Maybe Sabean can bring John Barr along with him.
LOL Mets have to settle for the 5th best available option. Nobody with a live pulse wants to be in charge of this team. The B team in NYC for a reason.
Because the Yankees and their obnoxious fanbase think they are entitled to the World Championship just for being the Yankees. They’ve been a brand on being jerks and apparently it plays here.
Yankee fans don’t even bother to acknowledge the existence of other teams. Their “knowledge” is calling their opponents City Name Schedule Filler.
Hey!
I don’t…ah, hell. Ya got me there, man.
Yankees fans right now are more concerned wondering why teams arent all over trading top 5 talents like Soto acuna or othani for Sanchez and Torres!
Billy Beanes comments were flattering, and he didn’t have to be so candid.
The b team is in the bronx son with boone getcit straight son
Not sure how to see this, though I’d still be scouring the Rays or Dodgers FO
A point that is missing here- Mets have a long history of the wrong guy in charge of making the big hires. If Sabean was smart enough to hire Bochy then- he moves to the front of the line instantaneously
They can definitely compete and have pockets to buy more guys, Sabean and Bochy would be a good short term deal
Another old white fart.
So youre ageist, racist, and a name-caller. Good to know.
Sabean is a great idea
As for Bochy, he retired. If he left the Giants he probably won’t be back anywhere
Main problem with the Mets is they still refuse to clean house in their scouting. Scouting which for the most part has been a failure for three decades.
Tommy Tanous needs to go. Wilpon was very loyal to guys that really never got the job done
But, I get it. Cohen can’t just fire the whole scouting department. It takes time to find scouts
But Tanous hasn’t gotten it done for decades
Do you watch much baseball? That’s one thing they’ve been good at.
Sabean yes. Bochy no. Boch should go back to SD with an up and coming bench coach to take over in 2-3 years. Bochy doesn’t like to play prospects and would have a hard time at this junction turning a team around that wasn’t built to win.
I want Boch to manage the Padres.
Brian Sabean wants him to manage his Mets.
My position carries somewhat less weight, but I have made my pitch. Still, I easily see those two reunited. Don’t forget Bochy was also a Met catcher. He still has the managerial goods. Hasn’t lost a thing. What he says will go.
What does Sandy Alderson want?
I don’t recall if Alderson greased any skids sending Bochy up to SF….which was done to save SD the demanded salary. I don’t think so. If correct, these 3 know each other well, and betcha those guys plus little Sandy can all healthily coexist. And win.
Yes he only offered him a extension with no raise at all and told him by all means see if another team was willing to meet your price and giants where !
At this point I hope Uncle Steve doesn’t care for Sandys baseball opinion. He used him to get ownership of Mets. I’m praying he knows Sandy can’t have influence.
He was not just a scout for the Yankees as the article states, he was head of scouting. He was credited with drafting Jeter, Pettitte, Posada, and Snow, He was also credited with signing Mariano Rivera.
Yes! Bring in Sabean (BS) and Bochy (BB) and bring in a winning culture. Oh and kick Aldersons to the curb and all Wilpon holdovers out the door. Get er done!
Hans Christian Alderson’s The Emperor’s New Clothes Enough
late to the party on this, but as a die hard Mets fan for 37 years, but also a huge BASEBALL fan, so I dont go BIASED, and try go very logically, I’ve been wanting them to go with a POBO/GM and manager with a track record of winning/lengthy success, for a damn long time now. Those kinds of guys automatically command respect of the players and guys in the front office who aren’t in charge. I’ve specifically wanted Bochy as soon as he retired as well (well, one year later, give the guy one good year off lol). But I also did want a younger guy, “groomed” under one of the great, winning executives of the last decade or so (i.e., I wanted Chaim Bloom to get the GM job sooo badly, especially if it meant NO BRODIE! lol).
So now, at this point, I’d hope that they build this front office for now and in the future:
Sabean as POBO, who brings along Bochy. Then, they hire Rays VP of Baseball Development Peter Bendix as GM/VicePOBO, with the intent to promote him to POBO in 5-7 years. They also would hire a young, up and coming, “he’s the next great baseball manager/he’s got future manager written all over him” type younger coach to be Bochy’s Bench Coach, again, with the intent to promote him to manager in X amount of years after Bochy re-retires, which I’d probably wager that as 3-5 years. Ironically enough, and perhaps HOPEFULLY it actually does happen, but Carlos Beltran would probably be the perfect guy for this on-field, coaching role, getting the experience he didn’t have at the time of his hire, and hopefully get a chance to rebuild his own reputation and show what he can do, but not under so much scrutiny as if he was re-hired right as manager; Cora and Hinch got their jobs right after their exodus, why not Beltran?
Let’s see them hire some older, experienced, winners, to give the franchise a solid, respectable foundation to get back on the right track. They work with a bright young mind, also from a successful Front Office/Team, who at his hiring knows the team is his in a few years. They’ll get the best of both worlds, or both schools of thought in baseball, with one foot on the gas, one foot on the brake. They’d work closely together, with a blueprint in place for success, and a smooth transition into the future as the 60+ year olds truly must retire, for good this time.
This would honestly be a dream come true for me, and a lot of sensible Mets fans that are tired of the circus going on for almost a decade (not to mention all the other nonsense over the years). It’d give us some hope, and hopefully some sense of calm, and trust, that the team finally has some experienced, successful, respectable executives at the top, who know what the hell they’re doing from day 1, thru game 1,620, and BEYOND…
Sabean
Bendix
Bochy
Beltran
“LET’S GOOOOO!! GET IT DONE!!” as some have so eloquently put it time and time again!!!
You really drink strong coffee. If you bring in Sabean he isn’t going to hire a young GM. He will be the GM. No thank you give me someone who knows about TODAYS BASEBALL.
BygSerch,
You were doing great and I am with you all the way until you started talking about Beltran who I can’t stand. He has too much baggage. To me he is a 1) Cheater 2) Liar & 3) Choker not the type of character to want around a winning club. Sabean & Bochy and Tampa Ray FO Guy yes but Cohen needs to Clean House of everything Alderson and Wilpon tainted Holdovers in the Process. LOL
Well said, BygSerch. I’ve been a Mets fan for 50+ years and very much see eye to eye with your comments.
The word is “gravitas” and this is exactly what Sabean would bring to the organization. He could surround himself with young stat heads and in a short time one would emerge as the heir apparent. Get it done Steve.
The game has passed him by. No thanks.
Balderdash!
Just because Sabean want the job doesn’t mean Bruce Bochy is coming with him. Bochy has a VERY good opportunity in San Diego if he is going to come out of retirement. Also, Beane and Alderson, would have worked out because they know each other Alderson and Sabean, that would be a clash in the front office. I know i keep saying this i’d rather hire Jeff Luhnow then hire Sabean. Some people might think im nuts. But The Astro’s are in another WS. Thanks to his scouting, and development.
Excellent two year place holder for Stearns
Stearns isn’t going anywhere
This has been the obvious choice from day one.
If he was the Met’s GM he would already be in the hall of fame
mets would be lucky to have sabean and bochy. this obsession with age is silly. not everyone over 60 is a reactionary dinosaur like larussa
They should hire me for the position. I would bring a title to New York
One thing is certain here…the Mets will find a unique way to screw this up.
The Bochy part of the rumor seems far fetched. Sabean hired Bochy to manage a California/West Coast team. Bochy is a “West Coast” guy..
Hard to believe that Bochy would allow himself to be sucked into the Mets chaotic vortex.
Sources have said that the Padres ownership and Front office (AJ Preller)
situation has given Bochy pause and hesitation in Managing the Padres.
Cohen is no picnic either and Bochy would want none of that at this phase of his life.
Sabean, the Mets should consider along with Jeff Luhnow.
Mets hire Sabean first player signed will be Barry Bonds…
Yankees haven’t been the same since he left.
Sabian is 65 so it’s not like he’s got one foot in the grave. The Giants had 5 losing seasons the 18 years he was the GM so he knows what he’s doing.
Bochy is 66, the managers in the WS right now are 66 and 72. I think both have plenty of fuel still left in the tank.
My only knock on both Sabian and Boch is that sometimes they are too loyal to veterans and I think that hurt them a bit over the years in SF. That aside I think they’d do a great job for the Mets.
Interesting speculation on Sabean. But let’s not get carried away.
Who was the individual in San Diego, that permitted Bochy to speak to other teams – and Bochy was eventually lured away by Sabean?
That person releasing Bochy?
Sandy Alderson
Dumpster Diving again this guy fits in with the other front office misfits had a domestic with his wife in the stands of a Giants game.Another loser looking for a job.Cohens puppet is finally found.This is your guy Mets fans because he is the only one to say he is interested.His career has been over so no loss after Cohen ruins him.LMAO, this is great.NO WAY BOCHY COMES TO NY SO SHUT UP ABOUT IT.