The latest on the Mets managerial and front office searches...
The Mets are still waiting to speak with Craig Counsell but have begun their search to replace Buck Showalter
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets have begun their managerial search and while they are still waiting to be able to speak to current Brewers manager Craig Counsell (they cannot speak to him until November 1), they’d also consider candidates who have no managerial experience (New York Post)
While not currently prioritizing a replacement for Billy Eppler, now former Marlins GM Kim Ng could be a fit for the role (New York Post)
Pete Alonso - who is entering his final year of arbitration - recently hired Scott Boras as his agent
Francisco Lindor recently underwent minor elbow surgery - he is expected to be fully recovered for spring training
Three possible managerial candidates for the Mets ✍️
Craig Counsell
Counsell, 53, just completed his ninth season as Brewers manager while compiling a 707-625 record during his tenure in Milwaukee. He has finished in the top ten in manager of the year voting in five of those nine seasons, earning five playoff appearances and three division titles.
Counsell’s big league playing career spanned 16 seasons from 1995-2011. He scored the winning run in game 7 of the 1997 World Series against Cleveland while with the Marlins and was also a part of the Diamondbacks championship club in 2001. A middle infielder by trade, Counsell hit .255/.342/.344 during his 16-year career with the Rockies, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Brewers.
Counsell worked under now Mets president David Stearns throughout his time in Milwaukee, and remains the most obvious fit for the Mets should Counsell decide to leave Milwaukee, although Counsell will likely have many other suitors as well.
Joe Espada
Espada, 48, is a native of Puerto Rico and is currently serving as the Astros bench coach, a role he has served since the 2018 season. He began his coaching career in 2006 as a hitting coach in the Marlins organization after a ten-year minor league career, managing in the South Atlantic League in 2006 and the Florida State League in 2007. He was then made their minor league infield coordinator, a position he served through 2009 when he was promoted to the major league staff as the Marlins’ third base coach for the 2010 season.
After the 2013 season, the Marlins asked Espada to manage their Single-A Florida State League affiliate, but he instead took a job with the Yankees as a special assistant to the general manager, working alongside Brian Cashman and current Mets GM Billy Eppler.
Espada has never managed in the major leagues, although he was a candidate for the Rangers managerial opening in 2018 and the Cubs opening in 2019 and Espada made it to the Mets’ final round of their last managerial search before the club chose to go with Buck Showalter.
Espada would be an obvious candidate to replace Dusty Baker in Houston, should he decide to leave.
Carlos Beltrán
Beltrán was the Mets manager for just over five minutes in early 2020 before he and the club decided to part ways after he found himself in the middle of the Astros’ cheating scandal. But he is now a current member of their front office serving in a role as special advisor.
Beltrán has never managed before but has always been viewed as a future star managerial candidate in the industry. He spent seven years with the Mets from 2005-2011 putting up arguably the best numbers of what should be a hall of fame career. He hit .280/.369/.500 during his tenure in Flushing with 208 doubles, 17 triples, 149 home runs and 559 RBI in 839 games with the Mets.