The Mets announced Friday that the club and special assistant to the GM J.P. Ricciardi have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.

"The Mets are grateful for all J.P. has brought to the team over the last eight seasons and we wish him all the best going forward," Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said in a statement. "He was and will continue to be a friend. J.P. was instrumental in identifying and bringing talent to the Mets that helped develop our growth throughout the entire system and stepped up to play an even larger role when we needed him over the time Sandy had to step away."

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier Friday that the Athletics could be a landing spot for Ricciardi.

The future of Ricciardi and John Ricco became uncertain after Brodie Van Wagenen was hired as GM, with SNY's Andy Martino reporting that while Omar Minaya would remain in the front office, the same could not be said for Ricciardi and Ricco.

"I want to express my gratitude to Fred and Jeff for giving me the opportunity to spend the last eight years in New York," Ricciardi said in a statement. "Additionally I want to thank Sandy for originally bringing me to New York and serving as a great mentor and an even better friend. Helping the Wilpon family towards their goal of making the Mets a successful franchise year in and year out was an honor. I'm looking forward to my next chapter and will continue to wish Brodie and the rest of the organization success."

The 59-year-old Ricciardi joined the Mets in November of 2010, when he was named a special assistant to then-GM Sandy Alderson. Prior to joining the Mets, Ricciardi was GM of the Blue Jays from 2001-2009.

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