Brodie Van Wagenen didn't say yes in his answer, but he also didn't say no.

During a 1-on-1 interview Monday with SNY's Steve Gelbs at Citi Field after the Mets introduced new manager Carlos Beltran, the second-year general manager was asked about the possibility that the organization could welcome back a familiar face to the Mets dugout.

Terry Collins, who managed the Mets from 2011-17, has spent the past two years as a special assistant to the general manager and senior advisor for player personnel. He surfaced after Friday's hire of Beltran as a potential bench coach for the first-time manager, as SNY's Andy Martino previously reported.

While the Mets as of Saturday did not yet reach out to Collins about the possibility of joining Beltran's staff, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, Van Wagenen expanded on the potential scenario Monday.

"Well, today's Day 1, so we're going to sit with Carlos and we're going to go over candidates, we're going to go over people that we think complement his skillset's well. But our goal is pretty simple -- we want to get the best people. And we'll be as thorough with the coaching process as we were with the manager search, and we'll make sure that Carlos has strong input in trying to put people around him that he feels comfortable with and that bring what he wants to the coaching staff."

Beltran added Monday that the former Mets manager would be one of his "mentors," but he remained unsure of whether or not Collins ultimately wanted to get back into full-time coaching.

Beltran and Collins crossed paths in 2011, Beltran's last season with the Mets and Collins' first campaign as manager, and have remained close over the past eight years.

Collins went 551-583 with the Mets in seven seasons, highlighted by 2015's run to the first World Series appearance since 2000.

As a noted fan favorite and experienced MLB coach, including managerial stints with the Astros (1994-96) and Angels (1997-99), Collins could be an asset to Beltran's staff, which is reportedly set to retain hitting coach Chili Davis, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Regardless of how the staff fills out, though, Van Wagenen expressed confidence in Beltran's ability after winning with the Mets as a player during the team's successful run through the late 2000s.

"Of all the candidates, being in New York is different," Van Wagenen said. "And understanding the pressures that exist for a player that comes to New York is important. (RHP) Edwin Diaz, (2B) Robinson Cano came here (from the Mariners) with high expectations. Carlos did the same. So very few people can understand what that means as a player. I think Carlos clearly understands what it's like to have a media scrum every day and I think Carlos also understands what it feels like to win. This team had success while Carlos was here, he had success in New York and I think those are things he definitely doesn't want to change. He wants to continue that narrative."

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