Jared Porter isn't afraid of high expectations.
Following Steve Cohen’s comment about expecting to win a World Series in “three-five years,” SNY’s Andy Martino said that it was “scary” to prospective GM candidates. Cohen responded by saying he didn't want those types of candidates if they’re nervous about setting the bar high.
Porter, who was just officially introduced as the Mets’ new GM on Monday, is up for the challenge.
While he didn’t want to guarantee Cohen’s timeline, he said that the new owner talking about winning in that span is exciting.
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“I don’t really want to put numbers or timelines on that,” Porter said via Zoom. “I would just say that hearing comments like that motivates me. It really excites me. It shows a strong commitment from ownership who wants to win, who wants to put a winner on the field for the fanbase in New York, and I completely align with that. It excites me.”
Porter also called this new opportunity “a dream job,” and it was something that he became solely focused on when it arose. The Mets, after all, are a team on the rise with a solid young core and an owner willing to shell out money to further the roster’s depth – an area of emphasis for Porter.
“I think it’s critical to have a real deep 40-man roster, especially to get through a full 162 and even coming off a shortened season last year could present some new challenges. So I think depth stands out,” he said.
To build a World Series roster, Porter is jumping right into the fire, as the Mets have already begun their free agency plan. Trevor May and now James McCann are the top two additions to the pack, moves that Porter loved to see. But there’s more work that needs to be done with the likes of George Springer, Liam Hendriks and Trevor Bauer still up for grabs.
That short-term challenge aligns with the long-term goal of getting the World Series trophy back to Queens. And Porter isn’t shying away from that. As Sandy Alderson said, Porter’s ability to collaborate and innovate in today’s game will be a valuable asset for this organization and the former Diamondbacks exec is ready to get to work to fulfill Cohen’s master plan.
“I want those expectations and I really want to provide that kind of atmosphere and situation for the fans in New York,” he said.