Veteran baseball man Dave Magadan can be counted as one vocal supporter of Mets managerial candidate Tim Bogar, as the longtime MLB coach spoke of Bogar’s virtues to Mike Puma of The New York Post (link). Magadan, who has worked with Bogar on several coaching staffs, describes Bogar as a “sharp”, “attention-to-detail guy” capable of integrating analytics while still relating to players. Magadan says that coaches and players were very surprised that Bogar didn’t get the Rangers managing job that he held in an interim capacity after the resignation of Ron Washington in 2014. “We all thought he was going to get the job there in Texas,” Magadan says in Puma’s article. “Especially after we turned things around that last month, and it didn’t happen and we were all kind of surprised.” The Rangers ultimately gave the full-time gig to Jeff Banister despite Bogar’s 14-8 interim record, while Bogar ended up undertaking some front office work with the Angels before a coaching stop with the Mariners and, ultimately, the Nationals. Bogar interviewed with Mets leadership for the second time on Thursday, although Eduardo Perez has since been described as the “front runner” for the position.
Mets Rumors
Eduardo Perez Reportedly “Clear Front Runner” To Manage Mets
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.
Tim Bogar Conducts Second Mets Interview
- Tim Bogar’s previously reported second interview with Mets leadership is also expected to go down today, according to a tweet from Jon Heyman of MLB Network (link). Bogar, a coach with the Nationals, will also apparently be using his off day with an eye on securing one of MLB’s four remaining open managerial seats. As Heyman notes, Carlos Beltran, Eduardo Perez, Twins coach Derek Shelton, Mets coach Luis Rojas, and an “unknown bombshell candidate” are still in play for the New York position, with tongue presumably planted firmly in cheek on that last item.
Quick Hits: Mets, Tigers, Kieboom, Bettis
Yesterday, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo warned that the Mets were “not particularly close” to naming their next manager. The scribe noted that the club is still performing callback interviews in a hiring process that could stretch “well beyond this week” (link). That’s not an encouraging status report for a fanbase eager to see the club narrow a search field that at this point still includes six names in Joe Girardi, Eduardo Perez, Carlos Beltran, Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas, Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar and Twins bench coach Derek Shelton.
Though DiComo doesn’t have a dog in the fight, per se, Tuesday’s piece for MLB.com does give some support to the notion of Beltran getting behind the reins of a big league team (link). DiComo spoke with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, who opined that Beltran will make an “amazing” manager after having the chance to work with Beltran when the latter was a player on Houston’s 2017 World Series team. “He’s going to help [a] club so much like he helped here in this clubhouse,” Correa told Beltran. “The atmosphere that he built and the chemistry in the clubhouse still lives on.”
- Four players in the Tigers org were outrighted to the roster of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, according to the International League transactions page. The new Hens, lefty Nick Ramirez, righty Eduardo Jimenez, righty Zac Reininger, and outfielder Dustin Peterson, are not exactly household names, but Ramirez did make 46 largely serviceable long-relief appearances (4.08 ERA in 79.2 innings) for Detroit in 2019, and Peterson was a top-30 prospect with the Braves as recently as 2018. Reininger, meanwhile, has struggled in parts of three Detroit seasons (8.08 ERA/7.44 FIP in 59 career MLB innings), while Jimenez was only slightly better for the Tigers in his 2019 rookie debut (5.91 ERA/4.34 FIP in 10.2 innings).
- Agent Trevor Kieboom has joined the ACES agency, according to a tweet from MLB journalist Robert Murray (link). Kieboom, a former player with Georgia’s collegiate team, will bring with him his clients/brothers Spencer and Carter, both of the Nationals, as well as Rangers minor league hurler Alex Speas, Royals lefty Richard Lovelady, Mets minor league pitcher Kevin Smith, and Reds rookie ball infielder Ivan Johnson. In a separate tweet, Murray also shares that Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis, formerly represented by Sosnick, Cobbe, and Karon, is now under the representation of CAA baseball (link).
Mets Notes: Managerial Search, Wheeler
The Mets have begun narrowing the field in their managerial search, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that neither Padres first base coach Skip Schumaker nor D-backs director of player development Mike Bell will receive a second interview. Joe Girardi, Eduardo Perez, Carlos Beltran, Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas, Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar and Twins bench coach Derek Shelton are all in line for second-round interviews in the near future. New York’s search doesn’t appear to be as far along as that of the Phillies, who are reportedly down to three veteran candidates with Girardi reported to be in the lead. The Phils could make Girardi an offer well before the Mets’ search is near completion, which would further narrow the field but remove a prominent contender for the position.
Meanwhile, Newsday’s David Lennon explores the lack of clarity in the Mets’ search, opining that it’s strange that an organization that has likely expected to be seeking a new skipper since midseason would still be so uncertain regarding the qualities it hopes to find in a new manager. The Mets have indeed interviewed a rather wide-reaching slate of candidates, and the remaining group is fairly eclectic without a clear front-runner.
Here’s more out of Queens…
- Everyone loves a “mystery team” in free agency, but how about a “mystery candidate” in a managerial search? Both MLB Network’s Jon Heyman and SNY’s Andy Martino suggested the that a “bombshell” candidate is in the mix if none of the presently known options distinguishes himself (Twitter links). That only furthers the notion that the Wilpon family isn’t sure what type of skipper they’re seeking. Speculation and or eye-rolls will surely abound, though both Heyman and Martino both ruled out David Wright, while Heyman adds that Alex Rodriguez could only laugh when asked about the possibility. MLBTR’s Connor Byrne put his money on Benny Agbayani, and I’m calling that the Mets double down on their Brodie Van Wagenen investment and make him the manager as well (kidding … mostly).
- Turning to the Mets’ actual roster, The Athletic’s Tim Britton explores Zack Wheeler’s impending free agency and whether he’s a fit to re-sign with the team in free agency (subscription link). The call on issuing Wheeler a qualifying offer is an easy “yes,” he opines — we at MLBTR are inclined to agree — as is Wheeler’s decision to reject it. As MLBTR’s Jeff Todd recently laid out, the Mets not only lack flexibility but are actually on pace to spend more on the current roster than they did in 2019. Britton notes that the Mets would need to be OK with surpassing or at least flirting with the luxury tax in order to re-sign Wheeler, though he contends that with Wright, Yoenis Cespedes, Jed Lowrie and Wilson Ramos all off the books following the 2020 season (to say nothing of Justin Wilson and Marcus Stroman), surpassing the luxury threshold would be justifiable for a win-now Mets club. Of course, despite playing in New York, the Mets haven’t crossed that line before and have not carried an Opening Day payroll greater than this season’s $158.5MM mark.
Pitchers Recently Electing Free Agency
Since the conclusion of the regular season, a number of players have elected free agency. That right accrues to certain players who are outrighted off of a 40-man roster during or after the season — namely, those that have at least three years of MLB service and/or have previously been outrighted. Such players that accepted outright assignments during the season have the right to elect free agency instead at season’s end, provided they aren’t added back to the 40-man in the meantime.
We already rounded up the position players. Now, here are the pitchers that have recently taken to the open market, along with their now-former teams (via the International League and PCL transactions pages):
- Austin Adams, RHP, Tigers
- Michael Blazek, RHP, Nationals
- David Carpenter, RHP, Rangers
- Rookie Davis, RHP, Pirates
- Odrisamer Despaigne, RHP, White Sox
- Ryan Feierabend, LHP, Blue Jays
- Brian Flynn, LHP, Royals
- Ryan Garton, RHP, Mariners
- Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Orioles
- Matt Grace, LHP, Nationals
- Deolis Guerra, RHP, Brewers (since re-signed)
- David Hale, RHP, Yankees
- Kazuhisa Makita, RHP, Padres
- Justin Miller, RHP, Nationals
- Juan Minaya, RHP, White Sox
- Bryan Mitchell, RHP, Padres
- Hector Noesi, RHP, Marlins
- Tim Peterson, RHP, Mets
- Brooks Pounders, RHP, Mets
- JC Ramirez, RHP, Angels
- Erasmo Ramirez, RHP, Red Sox
- Zac Rosscup, LHP, Cardinals
- Chris Rusin, LHP, ROckies
- Fernando Salas, RHP, Phillies
- Brian Schlitter, RHP, Athletics
- Chasen Shreve, LHP, Cardinals
- Aaron Slegers, RHP, Rays
- Josh Smith, RHP, Red Sox
- Dan Straily, RHP, Phillies
- Pat Venditte, SHP, Giants
- Dan Winkler, RHP, Giants
- Mike Wright, RHP, Mariners
Position Players Recently Electing Free Agency
Since the conclusion of the regular season, a number of players have elected free agency. That right accrues to certain players who are outrighted off of a 40-man roster during or after the season — namely, those that have at least three years of MLB service and/or have previously been outrighted. Such players that accepted outright assignments during the season have the right to elect free agency instead at season’s end, provided they aren’t added back to the 40-man in the meantime.
Here are the position players that have recently taken to the open market, along with their now-former teams (via the International League and PCL transactions pages):
- Jim Adduci, OF, Cubs
- Aaron Altherr, OF, Mets
- Rob Brantly, C, Phillies
- Wilkin Castillo, C, Marlins
- Isaac Galloway, OF, Marlins
- Dustin Garneau, C, Athletics
- Juan Graterol, C, Reds
- Gorkys Hernandez, OF, Red Sox
- Oscar Hernandez, C, Red Sox
- Rafael Lopez, C, Braves
- Deven Marrero, INF, Marlins
- Peter O’Brien, OF, Marlins
- Jace Peterson, IF/OF, Orioles
- Yadiel Rivera, 3B, Marlins
- JB Shuck, OF, Pirates
- Jesus Sucre, C, Orioles
- Blake Swihart, C/OF, Diamondbacks
- Beau Taylor, C, Athletics
- Charlie Tilson, OF, White Sox
- Bobby Wilson, C, Tigers
Latest On Mets’ Managerial Search
OCT. 22: Luis Rojas will also interview for a second time, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com tweets.
OCT. 20, 8:55pm: Tim Bogar is also getting a second interview, Ken Rosenthal reports (via Twitter).
7:50pm: Joe Girardi will also receive a second interview from the Mets, as per Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link).
7:33pm: The Mets are entering their second round of managerial interviews, with two names already scheduled for another meeting with team brass. SNY’s Andy Martino reported yesterday that long-time Mets star Carlos Beltran was expected to get another interview, and Mike Puma of the New York Post writes that the Mets have indeed asked the Yankees for permission to speak with Beltran (who is a special advisor to the Yankees GM Brian Cashman). Eduardo Perez, the former first baseman and current analyst for both ESPN and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM, is also being asked back for a second interview, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports.
At least one more candidate is expected to join this next stage of the interview process, though the identity of the third person isn’t yet known. Joe Girardi, Skip Schumaker, Derek Shelton, Luis Rojas, Tim Bogar, and Mike Bell are the other six candidates who have received interviews to date. Martino also tweets that the Mets are still looking into some other candidates who have yet to be revealed.
Beltran and Perez aren’t under consideration for any of the other seven managerial openings around the game, though Beltran has said that he is only interested in managing in New York, to the point of turning down requests to interview with the Padres and Cubs. Perez was interviewed by the Reds and Blue Jays about their managerial vacancies last offseason. Though Beltran and Perez have 33 combined seasons of MLB playing experience between them, neither has managed at the big league level, which means the Mets would be following up Mickey Callaway’s short-lived tenure with another first-time skipper if either Beltran or Perez (or, in fact, any of the known candidates except Girardi) are hired.
Perez has been a manager in Puerto Rico and also managed Colombia’s team in the qualifying rounds for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Perez’s resume also include a stint as a special assistant in the Indians front office, as well as one season as the Astros bench coach in 2013 and roughly a season and a half as the Marlins’ hitting coach from 2011-12.
Beltran only hung up his spikes after the 2017 season, and after taking a year away from the sport, joined the Yankees’ front office as Cashman’s advisor. Beltran came relatively close to becoming a New York manager two winters ago, as he was one of the six candidates interviewed by the Yankees for the position that eventually went to Aaron Boone.
Reflecting On Canó's Disappointing 2019
- It was a forgettable first season in Flushing for Mets second baseman Robinson Canó, one of the team’s crown jewels from last winter. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reflects on the disappointing year for Canó while looking ahead to the future, which includes four more years of Canó, who turns 37 on Tuesday. While he seemed to find his stroke after the All-Star break, the overall numbers were still a far cry from the slugger that New Yorkers have come to know and love. Injuries no doubt played a considerable part in those struggles, with Canó landing on the injured list on three separate occasions, leading him to enter the offseason aiming to strengthen his legs. Still, the outlook for 37-year-old position players is not an especially promising one—and Canó won’t be given any breaks, given his hefty paycheck.
Mets Interview Skip Schumaker
The Mets have interviewed Padres first base coach and former big league utility man Skip Schumaker for their managerial vacancy, Dennis Lin of The Athletic tweets. The interview took place yesterday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds.
Like the vast majority of the Mets’ candidates to this point, the 39-year-old Schumaker (40 in February) lacks any managerial experience. But since hanging up his spikes after the 2015 campaign, he’s worked in the Padres organization in a variety of capacities. Schumaker first joined the front office as a special assistant to the baseball operations and player development departments. He worked with the Padres’ minor league affiliates in that capacity and has since taken on a prominent role on the Major League coaching staff, beginning in 2018.
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen is surely somewhat familiar with Schumaker; while Van Wagenen didn’t represent him directly during his playing career, Schumaker was a client of Van Wagenen’s now-former agency, CAA Baseball (where he was represented by agent Nez Balelo). He joins a growing list of interviewees that includes Joe Girardi — the only candidate with Major League managerial experience — as well as D-backs director of player development Mike Bell, former big league outfielder Carlos Beltran, former Astros bench coach Eduardo Perez (currently of ESPN fame), Twins bench coach Derek Shelton and current Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas.
Notably, that list doesn’t represent the entirety of the Mets’ search, per Andy Martino of SNY (Twitter link). Additional candidates could yet receive interviews as the team continues its quest to replace the recently fired Mickey Callaway. You can keep up to date with the Mets’ managerial search as well as the six other active searches throughout the league by bookmarking MLBTR’s 2020 Managerial Tracker.
