Sandy Alderson continues to add to his list of managerial candidates and wants to name one before the Winter Meetings, which begin Dec. 6 in Orlando.
“It would probably be helpful for us to have a manager by the end of the month,” the new Mets general manager said during a conference call yesterday. “Another sort of logical deadline is Thanksgiving. I’m not sure we’re going to make that.”
Alderson met with DeMarlo Hale at Citi Field yesterday — Boston’s bench coach was the first candidate from outside the organization to get an interview — and Alderson will talk to Triple-A Buffalo manager Ken Oberkfell either tomorrow or Friday in the Dominican Republic. Oberkfell is managing in winter ball.
He already has talked to Terry Collins, Bob Melvin, Wally Backman, Chip Hale and Dave Jauss, while Clint Hurdle and Don Wakamatsu are slated for interviews today.
“There may be one or two others that we invite in, so that the roster is still open at this point,” Alderson said.
At some point, Alderson is going to have to put a team together and that process has begun.
“Next week would be the logical time for clubs to be talking to one another,” Alderson said. “But I don’t think we’re too far behind the power curve here, in spite of what we’ve had going on.”
He’s been in touch with other teams.
“I actually have had several calls from other clubs, and have had discussions about possible deals, individual players,” Alderson said. “The fact that I’ve been putting together a front office and searching for a manager may have had something to do with the few number of calls that I’ve been able to have. But, I think, given the situation, the fact that free agents have just become available, minor league free agents have become available, I think next week is probably the first time most GMs are going to be talking seriously with other clubs.”