The New York Mets have been looking for a manager ever since they decided not to renew Luis Rojas’ contract earlier in the offseason.
Rojas led the Mets to two losing seasons in 2020 and 2021, despite expectations being much, much higher.
The team prioritized some free agent signings and securing their general manager before looking for a skipper.
Now, the manager that decides to take the position will come in and be welcomed by a solid foundation when it comes to player personnel, analytics department, and financial resources.
The Mets analyzed and considered several candidates for their manager position.
Six of them were interviewed: Brad Ausmus, Bob Geren, Clayton McCullough, Joe Espada, Matt Quatraro, and Buck Showalter.
The last three made it to the final round of interviews, which is expected to take place this week with the presence of Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Buck Showalter and Joe Espada are two of the finalists for the Mets managerial job. There is believed to be a 3rd finalist as well. Owner Steve Cohen will now enter the interview process. @Joelsherman1 and @KenDavidoff on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2021
It would be the first managerial gig for Espada and Quatraro, while Showalter has been managing since 1992 but has been inactive since 2018.
A decision is expected by the end of the week, according to SNY.
Here is some information about each candidate.
Matt Quatraro
Quatraro has been linked professionally with the Tampa Bay Rays for a good portion of his life.
The 48-year-old is currently the Rays’ bench coach, and will likely continue to function in that role unless he can get the Mets’ manager position.
Quatraro was drafted by the then Devil Rays in 1996, and played in the minor leagues until 2003 without reaching the majors.
His coaching career began in 2004.
He managed minor league teams and got a position as the assistant hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians from 2014 through 2017.
He started serving as the Rays’ bench coach 2018.
His resume is much more inclined to hitting, as he also served as the Rays’ minor league hitting coordinator from 2010 to 2013.
Joe Espada
The 46-year-old Espada is the youngest of the Mets’ managerial candidates.
He is currently the bench coach of the Houston Astros.
He has worked with the Miami Marlins as a third base coach, and joined Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees as a special assistant to the general manager, so he is familiar with MLB front offices and the way they think these days.
In 2015, he was named the Yankees’ third base coach.
Then, in 2017, the Astros snagged him.
His only managerial experience has come with the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican winter league.
Buck Showalter
Showalter is, by far, the most experienced of the candidates to take over the Mets.
Multiple writers covering their search, including Andy Martino of SNY, have reported he is the favorite.
If Buck Showalter is hired as the Mets' manager — and within the industry, he is viewed as the heavy favorite — it'll be interesting to see if ex-Pirate coach Joey Cora emerges as a candidate for Showalter's staff.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 9, 2021
The belief around the industry is that a disaster would need to happen for Showalter to lose the job.
Showalter is 65 years old, but has an understanding of analytics and is willing to incorporate them, as he explained in the past.
He has a career 1,551–1,517 record as a manager, and has worked with the Yankees, the Texas Rangers, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Baltimore Orioles.
He is also a three-time American League Manager of the Year winner (1994, 2004, 2014).
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