The Mets made a huge front office move on Wednesday, hiring Red Sox executive Allard Baird to be their vice president/assistant GM of scouting and player development, SNY's Andy Martino confirmed.
The Baird hire comes a day after the Mets hired Adam Guttridge as their assistant GM of systematic development.
Baird, who was a candidate for the Mets' GM job in 2010 and has a scouting background, had been working for the Red Sox since 2006 -- serving most recently as their senior vice president of player personnel.
The 57-year-old Baird was GM of the Royals from 2000 to 2006.
Along with Baird and Guttridge, the Mets' front office under GM Brodie Van Wagenen alo includes former GMs Omar Minaya and Ruben Amaro Jr., as well as John Ricco, who served as Sandy Alderson's assistant GM.