Gil Patterson is no longer in the running to be the next Mets' pitching coach, according to SNY's Andy Martino. Twins assistant pitching coach Jeremy Hefner is a very strong candidate to get the job, but nothing has been finalized, sources tell Martino.
Patterson, 64, epitomizes the term "baseball lifer." He was drafted by the Yankees at No. 7 overall in the 1975 draft, and though his playing career was over by 1982, he's been a coach at either the minor or major league level since 1984.
He has previously served as a major league pitching coach for the Blue Jays from 2002-2004 and is in his third stint with the Athletics' organization, currently as the team's minor league pitching coordinator.
Hefner, University of Michigan pitching coach Chris Fetter, and Brewers bullpen coach Steve Karsay have all been tabbed as possible candidates to replace interim pitching coach Phil Regan, who the Mets would like to bring back in some capacity.
No announcement on this opening, or any other on the Mets coaching staff, is expected imminently. The team plans on announcing Carlos Beltran's staff in full once it has been completely assembled.