New General Manager Thread

[metirish]

Heyman - Newsday also had the story that the Marlins have refused permission for the Mets to speak with Jennings.


Byrnes, Alderson believed to be among names on Mets' GM list

The Mets' GM search has about seven names at the top, and it is believed they may include ex-Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, MLB consultant Sandy Alderson, Diamondbacks VP Jerry Di Poto, Rays executive Gerry Hunsicker, Twins executive Terry Ryan and Marlins VP Dan Jennings. There are some suggestions the Mets favor someone with GM experience, but they are considering a variety of candidates, possibly partly because they are understandably uncertain about their chances to lure proven former GMs such as Alderson, Hunsicker and Ryan. Their top list may be pared down further, as the Marlins are believed unlikely to grant permission to the rival Mets to speak to Jennings, who's under contract through 2015. Both Alderson and Hunsicker, two intriguing candidates, have told people they are happy in their current roles, but Mets people still seem to believe their chances are slightly better for Alderson or Hunsicker than Ryan, who has deep Midwestern roots. Alderson and Hunsicker both are said to have enjoyed their time living in New York -- though it's still no certainty, either, that they'd want to dive back into a GM job in New York. Ryan, like Hunsicker is a former Mets employee, but people close to him say they don't expect him to want to jump at such a job. (Ryan, whose Twins team is facing the Yankees in the ALDS, didn't return a text Wednesday). Hunsicker has told people recently he is enjoying his role with the Rays. Alderson is said to want to finish a big job he began only months ago with MLB aiming to fix Latin American signing issues, and furthermore, Mets people have to wonder whether Alderson would perceive GM to be a high enough job for the accomplished baseball man. Ryan would be a coup but is seen as perhaps the biggest long shot of all. Hahn is a well-regarded longtime assistant in Chicago who has previously turned down previous GM opportunities (Pittsburgh was one) and has been mentioned as a strong candidate to become GM with his hometown White Sox at some point in coming years. Byrnes remains well-regarded after a surprisingly abrupt ending in Arizona. Di Poto is of interest to the Mets as a former Mets player from New Jersey who did a nice job as the D-backs interim GM before being passed over for the established Kevin Towers. Jennings is seen as an excellent evaluator but the Marlins have in the past rejected teams from trying to hire him, so there's little reason to believe they'd grant it to the rival Mets The Mets intend to try to interview the seven or so people at the top of their wish list before moving on to their longer list, which is said to be about 30 names, and is believed to include another established GM, John Hart, who served in that role for the Indians and Rangers and is now a Rangers consultant and MLB Network personality who told the New York Post he is interested in the Mets' job. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, who will make the big hiring decision jointly with owner Fred Wilpon and club president Saul Katz, has said that they will consider younger candidates who may have some or no GM experience as well as more experienced candidates. John Ricco, the Mets' longtime assistant GM who is currently heading the team's baseball operations department, has a big role in sorting through the candidates, though he himself is not seen as a GM candidate at the moment. Mets people are in the process of getting interview approval from current employers. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/10/07/heyman.mets.gm.search/index.html#ixzz11hQtE1oB

[Guest Edgy DC]

Love it.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'll save the "l" word for further progress/the eventual result. But I'm comforted by all this, assuming it's accurate.

Is withholding permission for execs to speak with potential employers that common in MLB? Seems to me it comes up rarely if ever at the professional ranks, and that granting such permission is almost de rigueur.

[ashie62]

Bobby V for GM, Manager and platoon Rightfielder.

[seawolf17]

Ashie62 wrote: Bobby V for GM, Manager and platoon Rightfielder.

Good by me.

I just don't see myself getting excited about a GM. Every GM with any level of experience is going to have positives and negatives on his/her record. I know it's a major decision, but I honestly don't have any particular pull towards any one candidate, unless it's Time Machine Frank Cashen.

[seawolf17]

I wanted RA Dickey to win the pitcher award because we could actually present him with a trophy and he'd be thrilled, because he seems like a really good guy. He'd probably even take pictures with it and list it on his resume.

[Farmer Ted]

I'd give Alderson a look if it weren't for the fact his best teams were stacked with juiced goliaths.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Source: Mets to interview Rick Hahn By Bruce Levine ESPNChicago.com CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox vice president/assistant general manager Rick Hahn will interview for the New York Mets general manager position next week, according to a Major League Baseball source. The Mets fired Omar Minaya on Monday, and decided not to renew the contract of manager Jerry Manuel. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon will conduct the search for the next general manager. Hahn is a highly respected baseball executive who has been on a fast track to a GM job over the past five years. Baseball America voted Hahn the No. 1 general manager prospect in its March, 2010 issue. In past years, Hahn interviewed for the St. Louis Cardinals general manager's job, but he withdrew his name after two interviews, and he also declined to be interviewed for the Pittsburgh Pirates GM job. Before hiring Jack Zduriencik as GM prior to the 2009 season, the Seattle Mariners asked for permission to interview Hahn, but the request was denied. Hahn, along with White Sox GM Ken Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf collaborated on all important baseball decisions in Chicago. Hahn's expertise blends a firm grip of sabermetrics and physical scouting of players. He is a Michigan graduate and has a Harvard law degree and graduated from Northwestern's Kellogg graduate school of management. Prior to joining the White Sox in 2002, Hahn was an agent at Steinberg, Moorad and Dunn sports agency in Newport Beach, Calif., for two years. His expertise in negotiating contracts and learning the scouting end of the game was essential in the White Sox promoting him to a vice president post in 2007.

[Guest Edgy DC]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I'll save the "l" word for further progress/the eventual result. But I'm comforted by all this, assuming it's accurate. Is withholding permission for execs to speak with potential employers that common in MLB? Seems to me it comes up rarely if ever at the professional ranks, and that granting such permission is almost de rigueur.

I'm just all for teams actually acting competitive with each other.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Adam Rubin wrote: The New York Mets will interview former Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes, former Kansas City Royals GM Allard Baird and Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn next week for the organization's vacant general manager position, a team spokesman announced Thursday. The Mets have indicated they plan to interview five to seven candidates, with finalists coming back for a second round.

The hope is to have someone in place by the time the World Series starts... 20 days from now.

[metirish]

Allard Baird?.......really?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Works for the Sawx now. Somebody must think he knows a thing or two. And if you want a guy to trade Beltran, well, there's only one guy on Earth with experience in that job.

Or, it's a big show before they hire back V.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Good God. We were chugging along so nicely there.

What about an Alderson as President/Baseball Ops head and someone like Hahn as GM? Hahn has cover from a potential DePodesta-ing at the hands of local media vultures, while Alderson-- who's been away from day-to-day running a team for, like a decade and a half, right?-- has someone to handle said day-to-day.

[metirish]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Good God. We were chugging along so nicely there. What about an Alderson as President/Baseball Ops head and someone like Hahn as GM? Hahn has cover from a potential DePodesta-ing at the hands of local media vultures, while Alderson-- who's been away from day-to-day running a team for, like a decade and a half, right?-- has someone to handle said day-to-day.

I don't care for that idea, by all accounts Hahn and Ricco have the same skill-set in that they are experts on the paper work , you hire a GM and is there any reason why Ricco doesn't stay in that role? The new GM would of course want to keep him. I think DePodesta had bad timing as much as anything but I see what you are saying.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I just don't believe in Ricco... at least not as an heir apparent. Admittedly, though part of it's grounded in something like fact (that he was a big advocate for bringing in-- and keeping-- Francoeur doesn't speak volumes for his talent-evaluation skills), a lot of it is hunch-y. Maybe it's just figurative residual Bad-Omar stink.

[MFS62]

Hahn's expertise blends a firm grip of sabermetrics and physical scouting of players. He is a Michigan graduate and has a Harvard law degree and graduated from Northwestern's Kellogg graduate school of management. Prior to joining the White Sox in 2002, Hahn was an agent at Steinberg, Moorad and Dunn sports agency in Newport Beach, Calif., for two years. His expertise in negotiating contracts and learning the scouting end of the game was essential in the White Sox promoting him to a vice president post in 2007.

He worked for a sports agency under Jeff Moorad?
I'd love to be a fly on the wall during one of his negotiation sessions with a player's agent as a GM. It would be like "Spy VS Spy", each one having a black bag full of weapons. I'm chuckling just thinking about it.

Also- isn't at least one of the Wilpons a Michigan grad?

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've got no problem with the acquisition of Fancoeur. He clearly outplayed Church dollar-for-dollar through the end of each team's commitments. The subsequent over-commitment to him in terms of lettuce and playing time and promotional identiy, I certainly have problems with, but I'm not hanging much of that over Ricco.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

MFS62 wrote: Also- isn't at least one of the Wilpons a Michigan grad?

Not only is Fred a Michigan graduate, he's got a stadium named after him!

[MFS62]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: MFS62 wrote: Also- isn't at least one of the Wilpons a Michigan grad? Not only is Fred a Michigan graduate, he's got a stadium named after him!

No wonder Jeff was able to get in.
Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jeff doesn't need nepotism. I'm sure his helmet-of-hair opens many doors for him.

[metirish]

All this radio talk and twitter talk that LaRussa would be rejoing Alderson in NY if he took the GM job is funny, can't see that happening.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I actually can.

[Guest Number 6]

I'd happily deal with La Russa micro-managing the lineup and passing out at traffic lights so long as Duncan is included in the deal.

[Frayed Knot]

Joel Sherman makes the case for Sandy Alderson

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_must_hire_alderson_as_gm_StpRnEyR6lULxiMChSMqSK

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Joel Sherman makes the case for Sandy Alderson http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_must_hire_alderson_as_gm_StpRnEyR6lULxiMChSMqSK

This sounds too good to be true.
Sherman is usually anti-Met.
This must be part of a plot to finally destroy the Mets, Alderson really being on the payroll of the Yankees.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Andy Martino in the Daily News this morning thinks that Alderson is very likely. Said something about it being hard to foresee any other outcome.

He also says that if it is Alderson, Omar would be more likely to stay in the Mets front office as some kind of scouting guru.

[Fman99]

Rotoworld (via Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, whomever that is) reporting that Alderson as GM is a done deal, even before the interviews are done, FWIW.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MFS62 wrote: Joel Sherman makes the case for Sandy Alderson http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_must_hire_alderson_as_gm_StpRnEyR6lULxiMChSMqSK This sounds too good to be true. Sherman is usually anti-Met. This must be part of a plot to finally destroy the Mets, Alderson really being on the payroll of the Yankees. Later

I generally distrust all columns with headlines beginning with METS MUST... but Sherman makes a good case for the circumstances favoring an Alderson hire.

I also think Sherman is probably the best sports columnist left in NY, and not a pro-MFY hack.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Isn't Sherman the one who is always pleading the case of the chop shops in the iron triangle?

[Gwreck]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Isn't Sherman the one who is always pleading the case of the chop shops in the iron triangle?

I thought that was Wally Matthews.