Unless something unexpectedly goes wrong during his final interview with the Mets today, Sandy Alderson could be named the team’s new general manager before the end of this week.
Alderson is the overwhelming favorite for the position as the Mets wrap up the formal interview process.
Former Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes had a callback interview yesterday at Citi Field, after the club announced last week White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, Dodgers assistant GM Logan White, Blue Jays special assistant Dana Brown and Red Sox assistant GM Allard Baird had been eliminated from consideration.
According to a source with knowledge of the process, Alderson is close to a slam dunk for the job, based on the former Oakland GM’s conversations with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and a longstanding relationship with principal owner Fred Wilpon. Among the purposes of today’s meeting, according to the source, is to get team president Saul Katz to sign off on hiring Alderson.
“[Alderson] has already got two of the three votes,” the source said. “I don’t see Saul trying to stand in the way.”
Multiple sources indicated there is no chance the Mets will hire both Alderson and Byrnes in a two-tiered management structure. The new GM’s first order of business will be hiring a new manager to replace Jerry Manuel.
The team would need approval from the commissioner’s office to announce their GM choice during the World Series, which starts tomorrow. But there is a good chance commissioner Bud Selig, who recommended to Alderson that he pursue the job, wouldn’t stand in the way of the Mets holding a press conference this week. It’s possible that could happen on Friday’s scheduled World Series travel day.
Jeff Wilpon issued a statement yesterday regarding Byrnes’ second interview.
“Fred, Saul and I met with Josh Byrnes,” Wilpon said. “Out of respect for the candidates and the ongoing process, we will have no further comment on the meeting.”