On Thursday, the Mets announced that team has begun searching for it’s next team president, at which time Sandy Alderson will transition into an advisory role for Steve and Alex Cohen.
Alderson, who rejoined the Mets as team president in 2020, met with the media on Friday at Citi Field, explaining what he’s been most proud of in terms of his tenure, what his role on the baseball side has been since the club hired GM Billy Eppler, and what lies ahead for him once the club finds their next president.
“I think that what I hoped we’d accomplish as an organization is a transformation, if you will, of the perception of the Mets as we go forward under what was then new ownership,” said Alderson. “And I think that has largely been accomplished. It doesn’t mean that it will be sustained, but I do believe that the image of the Mets is different today than it was roughly two years ago. I think we’re all very proud of that, but the challenge is to continue in that direction and sustain it over a period of time. I’m confident that that will happen.
“We’ve got a great leadership team here, very happy with the way in which the organization has responded this year, both on the field [and] off the field, in terms of creativity, in terms of execution, in terms of our internal culture, which I think is reflected externally in a lot of the things that we do. So, from all of those standpoints, I think we’ve made strides as an organization and I’m really confident that the organization will continue in that vein.”
The Mets hired Eppler to serve as the team’s general manager in November, with Alderson very much involved in the interviewing process. Once Eppler came on board, Alderson’s role shift from baseball operations back to the business side, which was the original plan for him when he rejoined the club in 2020.
“I would say very much removed by design, by preference,” Alderson said of his changing role after Eppler’s hire. “There was a lot going on on the business side and I think Steve was confident in what Billy was doing… It’s difficult to provide any real insight unless you’re in the weeds with everybody else. I’ve been careful not to go beyond what my current knowledge has been.”
Alderson was also asked what he’s been most proud of in terms of the business aspect of his role, and he pointed to how the Mets have embraced their history and tradition, particularly over the course of this current season.
“I think that we have, through Steve’s direction and guidance, embraced a lot of traditional elements, such as Old Timers’ Day, such as retiring numbers, but done it in a way that has been creative in the sense that there have been added dimensions, but also well-executed,” said Alderson. “And there’s a lot to be said for execution.
“The difference between good teams and bad teams is not always ideas or information, it’s execution. I’ve been proud of the organization from those who are creative in nature and who think about these things in those terms, but also are rank-and-file who have executed exceptionally well over the course of the year.”
As for what’s next, Alderson said he’s unsure of exactly how much of an impact he’ll have in his advisory role, but time will tell just how involved he is with the club’s decision moving forward, with Alderson hoping the team continues to trend upwards, both on the field and off.
“I expect that that will be fleshed out over the next couple of months. Being an advisor is kind of a tricky thing, and I want to be helpful,” he said. “I don’t want to detract to what the organization as a whole is going, but I think I can be helpful, so I’m looking forward to that possibility.”