The Mets are down to a few in-person manager interviews and are on track to make a hire within a week, league sources say.
After first-round telephone interviews, the Mets began their in-person interviews on Wednesday with Carlos Mendoza, and are continuing on Thursday with Craig Counsell. There are believed to be one or maybe two other finalists, if we want to use that vague word (the Mets would push back on it).
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay has been in the mix, sources say, but it is unclear to what extent. The New York Post also linked former San Diego skipper Andy Green to the job.
The second round interviews include meetings with owner Steve Cohen, sources say. Cohen is allowing president of baseball operations David Stearns to run the process and choose a manager with whom he feels that he can form a strong partnership. As such, his presence this week is a strong indication that it is getting late in the process.
Mendoza has interviewed well and is a strong candidate for the Mets job, sources say. Counsell, of course, is the wild card, and the Mets do not know how far along he is in talks with the Brewers or Guardians (both Counsell and Mendoza are also serious candidates in Cleveland).