BELTRAN. BACKMAN. GRANDERSON. NOT HAPPENING.
With Major League Baseball in “lockdown” mode and free agency off the table for the immediate future, the New York Mets have pivoted to the next priority: Hiring a new manager.
The process accelerated this week as the team’s front office began calling on a short list of candidates. The list of names includes a mix of experience and first-time hopefuls. Over the past 24 hours, Buck Showalter, Brad Ausmus, Don Kelly, Matt Quatraro, and Joe Espada have emerged as potential candidates.
Only two of the five “named” candidates have any past major league managerial experience (Showalter and Ausmus). and no one of the current list of potential candidates have managed a team to a World Series appearance. That is not a not-so-subtle attempt at throwing shade at any candidate — just a fact — as the Mets critically think through the process, the candidates, and determining the right fit for the job.
Still, there is a contingent of fans that believe Carlos Beltran, or Wally Backman, or Curtis Granderson should have an opportunity to manage the team. Beltran was hired, briefly, in 2020 and then swiftly dismissed amid the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal; Backman was also hired to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks — at least for four days — before being terminated after the New York Times reported he had been served a restraining order with his wife, a drunken-driving charge, and bankruptcy; and Granderson, well, his candidacy was more “rumor” than truth.
As I said earlier today on Twitter …
I will save you the time and energy: You can let go of any fantasy you have of the @Mets hiring Carlos Beltran, Wally Backman or Curtis Granderson. Not happening. #LGM #Mets pic.twitter.com/WPRXy83H2O
— John Strubel (@johnstrubel) December 7, 2021
RELATED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
The Mets are reportedly hoping to hire a manager by the end of next week https://t.co/g4Fh9YmhcZ pic.twitter.com/DPzbekNc9u
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 7, 2021
Max Scherzer has ‘made it known’ that he prefers Buck Showalter to be the Mets next manager, @ragazzoreport pic.twitter.com/KlIepTihgh
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 7, 2021
Terry Collins gave his vote of confidence for Buck Showalter to be the Mets’ next managerhttps://t.co/Yx0gmhACeA pic.twitter.com/VwQpHzQImO
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 7, 2021
Similar to the Astros, this is a move the Mets need to make. Experience, success, can handle the media, familiar with New York, brings instant credibility. No manager is perfect. Buck is no exception. What he can provide on and off the field is exactly what we need at this time.
— OngoMets (@MetsOngo) December 7, 2021
