As the Mets’ regular season comes to a conclusion on Sunday, the team’s search for a new head of baseball operations moves to the forefront of what should be an eventful offseason.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Mets will “soon” contact Theo Epstein about the job and plan to request to interview Oakland A’s exec Billy Beane and Milwaukee Brewers exec David Stearns.
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino previously reported that Beane is a top target for the Mets, appealing to Sandy Alderson because of their history together and to Steve Cohen because of his “reputation as a disruptor and innovator.” Martino also reported that some with the Mets also believe Beane would be “reinvigorated by a chance to win a championship in New York.”
As for Stearns, Martino reported that as of Sept. 21, the Mets were not yet sure if they would get permission from the Brewers to interview Stearns, though the Mets would “almost certainly” seek it.
As for Epstein, Martino reported that he could become a bigger part of the picture should the Mets not be able to interview some of the other candidates they have in mind, though his baseball resume “would certainly intrigue Cohen.”
Mets president Alderson said earlier this week that the team’s search had not yet begun, though he expected it would as soon as the regular season ended. Alderson was asked specifically about Epstein during his availability, but he declined to comment on individual names.