The Mets have already been turned down by a handful of targets in their search for a new baseball operations head. Each of Theo Epstein, Billy Beane, David Stearns, Matt Arnold, Scott Harris and Brandon Gomes had been raised as potential candidates only to later be ruled out of consideration.
Cardinals general manager Michael Girsch can be added to that list, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Twitter link) that New York reached out to the Cards for permission to speak with him last week. Girsch, however, declined to pursue the opportunity, electing to remain in St. Louis instead.
It’s not especially surprising Girsch would choose to stay with the Cards, where he’s worked since 2006. He broke in as the club’s coordinator of amateur scouting and earned himself a larger responsibility within the front office over the course of his tenure. Girsch was named an assistant GM by 2011 and bumped up to general manager in June 2017. For the past four-plus seasons, he’s served as the top lieutenant for Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. Girsch signed a contract extension in November 2019 that takes him through the end of next season.
The Mets will continue their search for a baseball ops leader over the coming days and weeks. New York set their initial sights on the high-profile trio of Epstein, Beane and Stearns, but they’ve been primarily tied to other teams’ second-in-command types after missing out on their early targets. Dodgers senior vice president Josh Byrnes — a former GM with the Diamondbacks and Padres — has previously been mentioned as one candidate the Mets were discussing internally.
bucketbrew35
LolMets
mets7300
LOLBREWERS
Rangers29
That makes no sense.
Down with OBP
LOLSENSE
Albert Belle's corked bat
So are you an adult now or still pretending to be that 17 yr old in high school @Rangers29
Rangers29
Oh, you again.
MasterShake
Well it’s clear your a 12 yo pretending to be an adult. Grow tf up you loser.
MasterShake
Thats @albert belle not you Rangers29
giantsphan12
The Mets seem to be in trouble. Either actual candidates themselves are opting out or other front offices keep denying them the chance to interview potential candidates. Eventually Cohen’s gonna say Efff-it, I’ll just be an owner-POBO-manager all in one. “We’ll be fine”
trussell
Hilarious !
KP23
In my experience, if people are turning down that kind of job, it’s never a good sign.
SportsFan0000
He may pull a Jerry Jones (Cowboys0….
joeyrocafella
Bucketbrew35 calm down. Comment on your own team instead, leave us to our misery
EliMorganFanClub
Why haven’t the Mets called me yet?
blueboy714
Why would anyone except a front office position for such a club in such disarray
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Your grammar threw me off. No offense.
Orel Saxhiser
Metsfan22 gave you a bad reference.
EliMorganFanClub
It figures
SalaryCapMyth
Because you already turned down the position. =))
bucsfan0004
Cohen is calling these guys himself, getting turned down time after time.
Joe says...
Eventually they will run out of people and HAVE to hire MetsFan22.
Eatdust666
Lmao
Stev84
At that point, they may turn him down
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Are sure he’s not been injured?
True2theorange&blue
Do these people know something that we don’t?
LordD99
Yes. Quite likely.
The MLB community is very insular. Everyone knows everyone’s business.
There’s a twofold issue here. The Mets are having difficulty recruiting. The Mets search is leaky.
Albert Belle's corked bat
They do. They sit in on the conference and then always decline. ….. obviously the candidates know alot more than us. I wonder what scares them away from working for Cohen. BEING the head of Baseball Opps for any team should be a life long dream. But so far a headache for the Mets.
ctyank7
Cohen isn’t the problem. It’s accepting that the Mets GM job means working under Alderson and alongside Alderson’s son.
GASoxFan
Basically, the whole situation reads like Alderson wants to work alongside his son, but, the son isn’t ready to take the reins.
Whoever heads up the team is going to be a lame duck and watched by the son, training their own replacement and knowing it.
alt2tab
I too have declined to interview with the Mets.
darkstar61
So much for that “short list” the team was working off of
They might need a full phone book to find someone interested
syndergaardshair
My sources are telling me George Costanza is the front runner for the Mets POBO
prov356
He’s tired of all of Steinbrenner’s macho head games.
SportsFan0000
Newman already declined the job?!
PitcherMeRolling
If he can turn Ken Phelps into Griffey Jr, give him the job.
blueboy714
why would anyone accept a position in the Mets front office with it in such disarray the past few years?
SweetHome
There are millions of reason$. I’ve been told not to take a job just for the money, unless it’s a lot of money. The Mets’ POBO could pay $10M+ per year for 3+ years guaranteed, even if you can’t fix them. If they post the job publicly, we can all apply.
Randomuser4567
Isn’t the highest paid now under $5m/yr?(depending on how you value Beane’s ownership share). I see Cashman as the highest at $3m, but that was from 5 years ago.
It would be interesting to see if people would be more interested, should the Mets completely blow that up and offer $10m/yr
SweetHome
Epstein was reportedly making $10M per year. Friedman was making $7M per year before he signed a new extension in 2019. Can’t find his current salary, but it’s certainly more than $7M and I would think it exceeded Theo to make him the highest paid POBO. Cashman is at $5M, thru 2022. Maybe $10M is on the high side for most of these candidates, but Cohen probably needed to offer at least that to Bean and Theo.
JoeBrady
Just speaking for myself, I get hired to fix places in disarray. There are some places to avoid, where the disarray is organic, but I become more valuable by cleaning up places than by coming into a joint already well-run.
bigjonempire
okay, okay I’ll take the job.
RobM
Don’t. Life is too short.
baseballpun
Seriously, they should just hire Luhnow. Make him an assistant GM or make it clear that he’s still serving under Alderson or whatever, but the man knows how to draft, and that’s what the Mets need. Any idiot can spend Cohen’s money on free agents, but they need a guy who’s going to build a sustainable farm.
The players are back in the World Series and Correa is going to land the biggest off-season contract. Springer got paid by the Jays. Cora and Hinch are managing. No reason not to give Luhnow a front-office gig.
Angels & NL West
Why not Luhnow? I’ve heard some rumors, but haven’t seen or heard anything concrete. Did he do something as he was leaving the Astros in the wake of the scandal?
SportsFan0000
Well, he is suing Astros Owner Jim Crane for the 22M that the Astros stiffed Luhnow on his Astros contract after suspending and firing him “for cause”
I think Manfred was named in the suit.
His Attorney has 22,000 Astros emails with some of the emails
specifically stating “DO NOT TELL JEFF LUHNOW”…(about the cheating etc_).
Luhnow’s attorney says that the guy who fingered Luhnow was the real mastermind of the cheating scandal and is still working for the Astros.
That guy, who was never disciplined saved his own job by throwing Luhnow under the bus.
Luhnow says he is being made the scapegoat and fall guy
for the sign stealing when he did nothing and knew nothing/
Luhnow spent 8 years building the Astros from a last place ballclub into a power house.
The Mets would be lucky to get him.
If Cohen had any balls, then he would pull an Al Davis and
hire Luhnow anyway even if the league is trying to blacklist him..
RobM
If they hired Luhnow (and I’m not sure Manfred wouldn’t step in and prevent it while there’s a lawsuit pending), he’d have no chance of recruiting additional talent, and the Mets may find it difficult to do business with other teams. The only way you’ll see Luhnow at CitiField is if he buys a ticket.
Orel Saxhiser
You are assuming the Mets job is a good one. No one wants to intentionally enter into a potentially bad situation.
Buckner
“he’d have no chance of recruiting additional talent, and the Mets may find it difficult to do business with other teams”
Isn’t that happening right now anyway?
Dustyslambchops23
I don’t agree with that at all.
Teams lined up for Springer, Cora got re hired, Correa will get paid. I don’t think there would be any limitations to him being able to do his job other than a tough, controlling ownership group
SportsFan0000
AJ Hinch landed a job with the Tigers the day that his suspension was over.
MLB cannot ban other teams from doing business with the Mets.
Or Mets could get a Court injunction against that kind of illegal restraint of trade and interference with business relations…
Plus, the league would get slapped with a multi billion dollar lawsuit
And, the league could lose its Anti Trust exemption in Congress
jjghost
You don’t need Luhnow, you need the guy that hacked Luhnow. He has to be out of jail by now and almost desperate enough to take the Mets job.
prov356
Wow. this is past funny and moving towards pathetic.
marinersblue96
I bet Jack Zduriencik would jump at the job.
bloomquist4hof
Great idea. He should see if Tony Blengino would give him a hand with his resume.
aragon
take minasian!
prov356
Um, no. He has work to do for us.
kellin
I dont understand why people already want Minassian fired, he’s barely gotten started..
Vizionaire
the way he built the bullpen basically signing and trading for players who had played for maddon in the past, what is worse is they were all past their prime. and he had $29 mil to build a bullpen and sign a starting pitcher.. what was even worse is he spent valuable $$$ to sign a lefty who was a disaster against righties.
Vizionaire
angels team era was 24th in the league and most other stats were worse.
Orel Saxhiser
It’s the same mentality that wanted Bloom fired in Boston.
Vizionaire
red sox owner’s objectives in owning the team is making money and winning. arte moreno’s objective is making money. he doesn’t have a bright baseball sense but is a genius in making money. problem is he doesn’t hire bright gm’s but the ones that allow him make money. this has been true ever since he bought the team. he has a yes-man as a president who know nothing about baseball.
despite all this a gm can still spend certain amount to building a pitching staffs. minasian failed miserably!
GarryHarris
Arte interferes !
sf2win
I hear Indeed.com is good for this sort of thing
EliMorganFanClub
Do we get Mariano Rivera and Max Scherzer to help us out with interviewing tips?
ctyank7
Mo and Max have two words regarding the Mets opening: “ Stay away!”
Rangers29
I knew this position wouldn’t be especially sought after, but Holy crap this is just embarrassing for the Mets.
Eatdust666
Eatdust666 Declines To Pursue Opportunity With Mets
Orel Saxhiser
Huge market. The game’s wealthiest owner. This should be a prime opening yet no one in baseball wants the job. Not only that but their lack of interest is being formally announced. Hmmm…
SportsFan0000
Red Sox have problems keeping good front office talent also…
Ownership and the PBO Kennedy have run off at least 3-4 top, successful Front office Executives: Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Dombrowski, Cherrington etc…
dugmet
When you consider how the NY media and Mets fans treat the FO, manager, and players with daily criticism, why would anyone want to subject themselves to that?
prov356
dug – millions of reasons. It seems 29 teams don’t have an issue filling the front office.
Orel Saxhiser
prov356, Yep. It’s got to be way worse than fan and media treatment. We know the adage about rats deserting a sinking ship. Well, they don’t want to hop aboard one either. If I was a Mets fan, I’d be nervous about this developing situation. As a baseball fan, I’m pretty nervous about it myself. I hope it doesn’t become some sort of black eye for the sport.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Winning trumps all even the critics.
vtadave
Geez, just give it to George Costanza or anyone with an assistant GM title with the Rays or Dodgers.
Canosucks
Brian Sabean; why can’t this happen? Enough Already!
Well at least the Dodgers lost; that’s once consolation. 🙂
Cheeseman Forever
With Sandy Alderson in place, anybody the Mets hire is not really in charge.
Bill Kane
The headline should just say everyone currently working baseball has declined the Mets. It would save time. They are going to give it to someone in the organization that’s all they can do. If not imagine their press conference. How does it feel to be the 32nd choice for the job. LOL
tddgrimm
What legitimate candidate would want to take this position and be forced to keep Sandy’s son working in baseball ops. I’m willing to bet if Sandy leaves this position gets filled quick. Not to mention, when has Sandy done anything positive for our organization? Didn’t he get us into this mess
SportsFan0000
Sandy built the team that advanced to the Mets last World Series with Cespedes.
So, he deserves some credit.
A new POB should be able to lay off the guys he does not want to work with or transfer them to the window washing department and hire his own guys.
See Dombrowski and the Phillies..
Orel Saxhiser
Have you ever worked for a company that hired a new department head? Your suggestion is not how things are done in the real world. No successful business operates that way.
SportsFan0000
Yes, it is customary for a POB to hire his own team in MLB.
Ditto for many businesses.
A baseball POB is more than a Department head.
He is running, making all the baseball decisions for the team
with some ownership input with regards to spending, finances etc..
Orel Saxhiser
A POB does not fire everyone and bring in his own people. Please cite an example where that has ever happened.
Samuel
It is not “customary” for a POB to hire his own team.
Every situation is unique. Mostly new POBO’s see what they have, and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Bloom went into Boston and has pretty much kept that staff. FO people like the legendary Pat Gillick took over franchises and won not only with mostly the same FO people, but even with the same managers. I know Cherington with the Pirates has kept the same Farm Director and shuffled around some of the existing personnel. They’re doing fine.
Then you have situations such as the Orioles that were years behind using current MLB techniques. They’ve had to build a new infrastructure – adding departments and people. That’s 5-6 year process.
The issue with the Mets is that for years quality FO people would not go to work for them. Sandy leaves, shows back up, and still no one wants to get involved in that mess. Truth is that the Mets need a complete rebuild, but Cohen’s a NYC baseball fan – he thinks winning is all about throwing money around and pressuring people (look how he pressured Rojas to go public and say the players needed to try harder), and in no way would put up with a 3-5 year rebuild…..because see, NYC fans and their teams are special and can’t be bothered with that stuff.
tddgrimm
Sports fan Sandy didn’t build that team. He added a few pieces to what Omar built…. Since he did that, we have done nothing but fall down hill. His methods do not work in todays game. This last debacle is still on him and the farm system that is depleted. He had years to build it and we have a bunch of mediocre players who 2 seasons ago had the stars aligned to make a run. Sandy needs to go.
gogoblue
At first, this was funny when the top candidates turned down the chance to interview with the Mets. Now this is just sad….. Even perpetually bottom dwelling teams such as the Marlins and the Pirates didn’t have this problem when they had openings at the front office……
Orel Saxhiser
Just give the job to the fifth caller on WFAN. Those folks are experts at trading players and stuff.
SportsFan0000
LOL!
Bigtimeyankeefan
Amazing how no one wants job… I’m surprised they haven’t reached out to try to get Tim Naering from Yankees
LordD99
Naehring wasn’t even sure he wanted to be promoted to AGM originally as he didn’t want to move from his current home state. The Yankees have allowed him to work remotely. Being GM or PoBO would require him to be in Queens. Won’t happen, unless his home situation has changed in the past few years. Also, leaving the Yankees to go across town to the Mets, even for a “promotion” seems like a reach, although I suppose if the price went high enough maybe he would.
Someone’s name I’m surprised hasn’t surfaced is Billy Eppler. He was very highly regarded with the Yankees and was on the GM short list for a number of teams. His tenure as the Angels GM started with good reviews, and he’s widely credited with getting Ohtani to come to the Angels as he was shadowing him back to his Yankee days. The ending was a dud, but it’s hard to say if that was Eppler or the owner Moreno. DiPoto basically quit the Angels because of Moreno. Eppler understands NY and is experienced, and he’s clean scandal wise. At minimum they should chat with him, although I know he recently he joined William Morris as a business partner, so he could be contractually unavailable for a time.
SportsFan0000
It was a power struggle between Scoscia and Di Poto.
Arte Moreno sided with Scoscia.
Mariners fans than him.
Angels owner is a micromanager and a meddler with the Front Office.
Why drop a small fortune on Rendon the hitter when
the Angels desperately need pitching?!
Some of the Angels moves are real head scratchers.
Load up on pitching so Trout can get a ring before he retires, not more hitters.
Eatdust666
Because they were desperate to make a big move especially after losing out on Cole.
Orel Saxhiser
Eppler has the same info re the Mets job as other baseball executives. It’s doubtful he would view the position differently.
Vizionaire
eppler works for an agency.
kenphelps44
“This guy here is dead.”
“Cross him off then.”
Thomas Walker
Literally one of my favorite lines in the movie!
Joe says...
Say what you want but Rachel Phelps knew how to put together a winner.
BuhnerBuzzCut
They might as well bring in a executive from the California penal league.
Thomas Walker
I guarantee if Sandy were not part of this mess, they would have already found the right guy. The problem starts with him, not Cohen.
RobM
Sandy is there, and his son is now AGM. Who wants to be squeezed between those two? Add in Cohen and his narcissistic tendencies, and you have a very unappealing situation.
YankeesBleacherCreature
As someone with little to no experience running a baseball team, Alderson is needed and trusted by Cohen – for now – for his rooted connections and respect from peers.
bobtillman
There is a certain amount of non-professionalism about all this, especially for a (presumably) skilled businessman like Cohen. And I know the NY media checks the garbage cans for any info they can get, but even with that, it’s all a bit absurd.
Ah well, maybe they’ll ask Rudy…..
Old York
Best to run from the Mets.
wallabeechamp
I feel sorry for Mets fans. Especially those who aren’t in denial about the absolute catastrophe that franchise has become. So many of us believed the problem was the Wilpons. I still think they are responsible for the original mess, but Sandy’s complete & utter failure to advance the franchise at all since his return should be everyone’s focus now.
He has no idea how to vet or interview FO personnel.
Not a clue how to keep the franchise narrative cohesive. (See deGrom fiasco)
Couldn’t garner enough respect from his ‘financial genius’ boss to make him see the error being committed in letting Kumar walk.
Don’t like to seem ageist but, at this point, Sandy is a stale and lad fart. Dump him and his son & watch qualified applicants start to materialize as if from thin air…
Orel Saxhiser
Yes, Mets fans don’t deserve what seems to be unfolding with the franchise. It’s safe to say whatever’s going on is deeper than Jacob deGrom, Kumar Rocker, and various other issues baseball fans know about.
SportsFan0000
Hard to believe that Mets did not do their due diligence on Rocker and did not either pass on him or compromise and sign him.
Buckner
I’m starting to think Zack Scott will be the next GM.
Samuel
Make Lindor the Player-Manager-POBO…..
Triple his salary since he’d be doing triple duty.
BuhnerBuzzCut
He’d probably decline the job.
SportsFan0000
Try Kenny Williams White Sox VP and former GM
He built the last White Sox World Series Champion.
He was moved up the ladder as Senior VP and Rick Hahn is now the GM.
Don’t know if he would leave Chicago to go to NYC.
Samuel
Yes….
Bring in all position players that can mash, can’t play D, run the bases, take advantages of opportunities, or have the slightest clue how to win…..and than tell the owner the problem is the manager….which by the way was the reason the White Sox won – Ozzies’ managing. After that season Ozzie and Williams fought constantly for years as Williams kept getting him players Ozzie didn’t want, and wouldn’t bring him the player he did. The Sox slowly regressed and have been 2nd rate ever since.
Lesson – MLB baseball s not rotisserie league baseball.
SportsFan0000
The White Sox do not win without talent.
Willams built that team for better or worse.
And, Williams has been involved with drafting, signing, trading
for many players on the current White Sox Roster.
The Manager is not a magician or miracle worker.
He helps.
But, your team does not win without talent and lots of it.
Cohens_Wallet
Oh man, this must be the end of the world.
Metsin777
Another one bites, another one bites, yeah another one bites the dust
Orel Saxhiser
Metsin7, what is your read on the situation? It’s gotta be beyond Alderson being on board, right?
Metsin777
@Cey Hey The problem is they are going after top guys that like the position they are in right now. Why go to the Mets and get fired a year or two from now while ruining your reputation when you have everything you need to succeed with where you are right now. All these GMs the Mets are trying to recruit also know that with Alderson there, they can’t have as much flexibility as they would like
Orel Saxhiser
Valid points. Even in what is considered a bad ownership situation like Pittsburgh, there’s a feeling that Cherington can do the job without interference from higher up. As an older person myself, I would have a problem with Alderson at 74 having a leading role in the team’s future. What’s in it for an older guy like him whose own future is right now? It limits what can be done by a person with a long-range vision.
The bad news for Mets fans is Alderson ain’t leaving. Player personnel-wise, what do you reasonably expect to happen this winter?
Samuel
@ Cey Hey;
I don’t work in the Mets FO, so I have no clue what it’s like with Alderson there. I do know that for years he was in the middle of the Wilpon father and son that were fighting one another and telling him what to do.
But I would say that bringing his son in as an assistant GM………
Canosucks
@Metsin7 I totally agree and that is why the Mets should only at this point or 10 before be looking at experienced people who have no present meaningful position like Sabean and sorry to repeat myself from another thread but purely from a business point of view this continued “search and seizure” of other teams talent only ruins Mets brand.
At this point all the Mets fans will be wearing the scarlet letter “M” because we are all getting screwed in public!
Inside Out
Ruben Amaro remains available.
BuhnerBuzzCut
And will always remain so
Bob333
Rube even said he would never work for the Mets again dysfunctional organization,how bad is that.
getrealgone2
Mets should just hire a company to build a GM AI. Then it becomes like Skynet and wipes out all of baseball.
619bird
Does Johnny bowtie have incriminating photos of Girsch?
vquagliana
Brian Sabean is waiting to be called.
bobbyvwannabe
Does Cohen have bad breath or something?
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
[Insert Name] declines to pursue an opportunity with the Mets
kodiak920
Glen Sather
foppert
Despite having recently completed a Microsoft Excel course and 6 weeks rehab, Kenny Powers declines to pursue an opportunity with the Mets.
GrandSlammer
Adam Gase
wallabeechamp
Bring in some of that good ol’ 86 magic!
I’ve heard Wally Backman’s resumé is hard to believe…
tiredolddude
Yeah, why not? If LaRussa is managing, why not Davey Johnson? He can bring Dykstra in for motivational talks
AgeeHarrelsonJones
Steve Phillips
BuhnerBuzzCut
OG sexual deviant
GrandSlammer
Cohen ought to give the Yankees a call and try to make a trade for Brian Cashman.
Since the Mets can’t find anyone who willingly will take the job, trading for Cashman, who is already under contract, would seem to be a wise course of action. Plenty of Yankees fans I’m sure would be more than happy to drop Cashman off at Citi Field.
Albert Belle's corked bat
John Gruden will take the job, and fit right in.
Rsox
Sandy Alderson making a phone call:
“Tire World”
This is Sandy Alderson of the New York Mets. How would you like to be the President of Baseball Operations?
“Gee i don’t know…”
What do you mean you don’t know? This is your chance to run a Major League Baseball team
“Let me get back to you, will ya, Sandy? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls”
BuhnerBuzzCut
At least you could have said you were from the Yankees.
foppert
So public. It’s almost like the candidates want to pile on.
iH8PaperStraws
Of course Mike Girsh doesn’t want this job. We in Saint Louis wonder what he even does for Carindals. He may be the GM but Mozalak does all the GM work still. He’s got one of the best jobs in sports, high salary and title but literally no responsibilities.
BuhnerBuzzCut
The NY post reports not even Pete Rose is interested in this MLB opportunity.
17dizzy
Girsch pulled off the Arenaldo trade—- however—- Mozeliak made it sound as if he was the one who did it!!
Mozeliak kept saying “We” acquired Arenaldo from the Rockies.
Mozeliak had nothing to do in the bargaining and negotiations for the trade!!!
All Mozeliak did was sign off to okay the trade. That’s it!!!!!!
Michael Girsch’s hard work in impact player trades which were actually made slides under Mozeliak’s rug when it’s ends up being a popular one. Plus some outstanding trades Girsch had set up with other teams for impact players ——-Mozeliak gave the trades a thumbs down. Mozeliak also sweeps those deals under his rug because he knows he himself would catch the heat for vetoing the trades!!
Now——- Mozeliak does all of the “Low Hanging Fruit Acquisitions on his own. He use to do the Free Agent signings all by himself. However—- after 4 straight years of hiring dud free agents, plus extending contracts of past their prime players—— Mozeliak is finally getting Michael Girsch a member of that loop—- And It Shows!!!!!
theodore glass
Sabean might be the only one interested at this point.
geofft
Which begs the question: WHY do the Mets seemingly have no interest in him??
Bob333
Another one bites the dust LOL 0-10+
GarryHarris
IMO, Bob Gebhard would be a reasonable choice at least for two years. The Mets need to take a look at the organization as if it’s a new team. It’s been pieced together with vastly different philosophies the last few years.