Add one more team to the great MLB manager search this offseason, as the Mets' rival Phillies fired Gabe Kapler after two seasons on the job.
The Phillies were expected to be playoff contenders this season after adding the likes of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura among others to their roster. However, they fell short of that goal, finishing an even .500 at 81-81 which was good for fourth in the NL East behind the Mets.
With the firing, eight teams are now looking for a new manager, which means the race is on for the top candidates on the market. It doesn't help that the Phillies would obviously love to beat the Mets to one of those candidates, being in division.
The Mets already got the ball rolling on their interview process, with phone interviews being conducted and soon-to-be in-person interviews with the likes of Joe Girardi, Carlos Beltran and Mike Bell. Buck Showalter and now Derek Shelton are names out there as well for New York.
It's unknown when those in-person interviews will take place. But, with the Phillies in the mix, the Mets will be sure to prioritize their manager search even more to hammer down their top candidate in case Philly tries to swoop in.