New Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has certainly drummed up plenty of buzz about his team this offseason and most recently during MLB's Winter Meetings.
After trading for Mariners' Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz, Van Wagenen has made headlines by aggressively pursuing Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto and even willing to do the unprecedented -- bring the Yankees in as a third team in order to get what he wants.
Allard Baird, the Mets' new vice president and assistant GM of scouting and player development, has certainly been impressed by the agent-turned-GM and he said it should not come as much of a surprise, either.
"He has been dealing with general managers all the time," Baird said on SNY's Mets Hot Stove on Wednesday. "As one GM to another GM, you profile those guys. You know their tendencies, you know if you gotta tap dance a little bit or get right to the point. Well, he kinda knows both sides of that. I think that's an advantage in some ways, I really do. He's creative, he's aggressive, wherever we're at as an organization, he wants to be further along."
Baird was GM of the Royals for six seasons and was most recently the senior VP of player personnel with the Red Sox, but joined the Mets shortly after Van Wagenen's hiring.
"It really came down to his leadership and vision, and I'm sold on it," Baird said. "That's the reason I'm here and I'm excited about it."