Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Starting in September, the Mets will meet with a wide range of outside candidates, both young and seasoned, for the general manager vacancy.

Although longtime executive John Ricco will be considered -- and many current and former employees are rooting for him to earn the job -- his case does not appear particularly strong at the moment. If that changes, it will only be after the team conducts a thorough search.

In the meantime, one name that is hot in baseball circles does not seem ready to jump to Flushing. Friends of Tim Naehring say that the highly respected Yankees vice president of baseball operations is unlikely to leave his current team. Though rival scouts believe that Naehring would be a fit for the Mets, folks who know him call a move unlikely.

Naehring, 50, has been asked to interview for several managerial jobs, and has had opportunities to join other front offices, but has opted to remain a trusted advisor to Brian Cashman. As our friend John Harper wrote last year, Naehring serves a Gene Michael-type role for the Yanks, and he is happy there.

Though friends say that Naehring would not rule out any opportunity, he is content, and not one of the game's more ambitious job-seekers.

"I doubt he would leave Cashman," said one friend. Naehring, understandably, declined comment.

Relations between the Mets and Yankees are generally rotten anyway, which would further complicate the situation. In any case, Naehring is just one of many names that will arise over the next few months. Expect a slow drip of news and rumors before the teams chooses its next leader.

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