The New York Mets need a GM.
Marquee pillars of the baseball front office field like the Oakland Athletics’ Billy Beane of “Moneyball” fame and noted Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs curse-reverser Theo Epstein, however, do not want the job. Neither do up-and-comers like the Red Sox and New York Yankees’ assistant General Managers Jean Afterman and Raquel Ferreira, respectively, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. So who does? It remains to be seen. The facts as they stand, though, are that a dozen or so of multi-billionaire owner Steve Cohen’s candidates to presidentially run baseball operations and/or serve as GM of his meddling franchise have either turned down offers, or interviews altogether.
Concerning the latter position vacancy, Jared Porter paved the road for his swift exit per the revelation of sexually explicit images and unsolicited texts he sent to a female reporter in 2016. His interim replacement Zak Scott soon followed with a DUI that buried his reputation before it could even form. Under Cohen, the team has eyed to break away from a spiraling climate most often held synonymous with the Wilpons’ reign; a year in, they have failed to do so. But why, exactly?
Complete changeovers are easily conjured on paper. In reality, especially under the second-to-none microscope of a New York fan base’s scrutiny and a media brass’s unwavering presence, it’s a considerably more nuanced marathon — and not a sprint, sadly. Though it will have to be an abridged one at that, to ensure the Flushing faithful that a dumpster fire won’t have to be put out soon, because it ideally won’t have the opportunity to break out in the first place.
Since a rebuild is out of the question, why does the prospect of taking command of the Mets’ ship scare off those who should literally stampede through Citi Field’s executive doors? Who would balk at the chance to crash-land into Queens, cut all weight deemed “excess” and freely sign A-class free agents and Mr. Met’s paychecks?
Could it be the fear that former GM and since retained liaison Sandy Alderson has unintentionally intimidated candidates into believing their decisions will be subject to his veto power? The reputation that precedes Cohen as a stone-cold corporate killer? Or simply the possibility of succumbing to New York’s blinding bright lights – deck already stacked against them, having to play second fiddle to the historically more successful crosstown Bombers? To make it here, not only can you make it anywhere, though; you won’t have to make it anywhere else, ever again. Since Yankees GM Brian Cashman won three consecutive titles to commence his now 23-year tenure at their front office helm, the team has won just one World Series. Despite the cries of sportstalk callers, he does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, either.
Meanwhile, the longer the Mets and Cohen fumble the hiring process, the more free agents they will see head elsewhere – as their cynical fans continue to indulge in their favorite bad habit: turning on the team itself.
Adjust your sales pitch, because deGrom’s health is uncertain. The lucratively paid Francisco Lindor is coming off a bad year. Layovers from the past regime are still limiting the current, devoid-of-leadership group’s mobility. And most importantly, the Mets’ divisional rivals, the reigning champion Atlanta Braves, will only become better with the return of the injured Ronald Acuna, Jr. and Mike Soroka in 2022. So, once and for all, stop getting in your own way, because now is no time to surrender and die.
Rather, it’s time to help Flushing become regarded as an attractive destination for prospective newcomers; to let both the play, and a most-desired season-long battle between the Mets and the Yankees for positively charged back-page headlines in the Big Apple, prove why.
