Carlos Beltran has support throughout Brodie Van Wagenen's front office, and is one of the many names on their current list of potential managers, according to people close to both player and GM.

Beltran, 42, interviewed to manage the Yankees in 2017 just two weeks after winning a World Championship with the Astros and officially retiring as a player. He was later named a special adviser to Yankees GM Brian Cashman.

I loved Beltran as a player. He's largely misunderstood and under-appreciated, which is why he'll always be one of my favorites to ever wear a Mets uniform. However, this is also why I'm both leery and intrigued.

There's also the possibilty Beltran could be viewed as a bench coach to a more experienced, battle-tested manager, such as Joe Girardi, who managed Beltran when together in the Bronx.

SNY's Andy Martino has reported that someone who knows Beltran well says there's 'no chance' that he manages the Mets or likely anyone else right now, but it's still worth exploring Beltran as an option.

Here's a list of pros and cons to help work through the idea of Beltran leading next year's team:

Pro: Beltran knows New York

In late 2004, Omar Minaya signed him to a seven-year, $119 million deal to join the Mets. He later played two seasons with the Yankees.

The city was home for half of his career, including nearly half of his home runs and 11 postseason games (10 with the Mets). He's done countless appearances on SNY, YES, WFAN, and many other small and large media outlets in the city. He even did an interview with me for MetsBlog in 2006.

Con: New York knows Beltran

Despite being the organization's third-most productive hitter of all time, despite making five All Star teams and playing a major role in winning the NL East in 2006, he is largely considered overrated by too many fans and radio hosts that think he was 'soft,' and didn't hustle.

They're wrong, which is why I believe Beltran may be the most under-appreciated player in team history. Nevertheless, these fans feel the way they do and that's something he would need to confront every day until he can show a lot more wins than losses as manager.

Pro: Minaya started Beltran's career

Alderson may have ended Beltran's career with the Mets, but Minaya got it started. And it's Minaya, not Alderson, that currently advises Van Wagenen in the organization's current front office.

Similarly, Van Wagenen's other special assistant, Allard Baird, took over being GM for the Royals when Beltran patrolled center field as a young man in Kansas City.

Beltran is also a big fan of Terry Collins, for whom he played under at the end of his time with the Mets. Like Minaya and Baird, Collins is also a special advisor to Van Wagenen.

After his 2017 interview with the Yankees, Beltran told reporters that -- out of the 13 managers he played for during his 20-year career -- Collins was one of his favorites because of how the two communicated and remained on the same page during difficult times.

Con: His time did not end well with the Mets

In advance of his final season with the Mets, reports surfaced that said team officials were frustrated with Beltran's choice to have knee surgery while skipping team-ordered doctor and hospital visits.

The buzz at the time was that Alderson was irritated that Beltran's unsanctioned surgery would decrease the player's trade value at a time when he would soon be a free agent.

Alderson eventually traded Beltran to the Giants in return for then top-prospect Zack Wheeler.

Pro: Beltran believes he's prepared

Despite his lack of experience, Beltran sees himself as being prepared for the job thanks to his limited use and time on the bench at the end of his playing career in Houston.

"I got to see the game from a different view," he told reporters when interviewing with the Yankees. "I got to be like a player/coach in the clubhouse, being active with the younger guys and able to help them."

Astros players repeatedly gave Beltran credit after each round of the playoffs, and ultimately, the World Series title.

"He's grown so much over the years, just in his expression and his ability to communicate, his willingness to communicate," Astros manager A.J. Hinch recently said when asked about Beltran as a possible manager. "He knows a lot about the game."

Pro or Con (not sure): Beltran as a player's manager

He sees himself as a player's manager, which is how Callaway and most modern managers describe themselves these days.

Former players and coaches have said he is a great communicator, regardless of language, age, or culture. He views himself as being proactive in making changes and confronting players and management.

He also has said he is becoming more and more comfortable using data to help with in-game decisions, though he admits that such information had little impact on his time in the batter's box.

Con: There are other suitors

Beltran is reportedly being pursued by the Giants and Cubs. In fact, most Vegas odds have him most likely to end up in San Francisco.

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