Newly named Mets president Sandy Alderson shed some light Monday on how the club will configure its front office and its coaching staff in 2021, as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com and Tim Britton of The Athletic were among those to report. The Mets will not hire a president of baseball operations, according to Alderson, who also revealed that Luis Rojas will stay on as their manager.
There have been questions about who will run the Mets’ baseball ops since they parted ways with general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. They will name a GM to replace him, and they have already interviewed roughly a half-dozen candidates, according to Alderson (via Britton). It’s unclear which individuals are in the running to fill that role, but former Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and current Mets senior vice president John Ricco are not among them. It’s also unknown how long the Mets plan on taking to hire a successor to Van Wagenen.
As for Rojas, he became the Mets’ manager under their prior regime, but he’s a longtime employee of the club who is familiar with Alderson from the latter’s previous run in the team’s front office. The 39-year-old managed the Mets to an underwhelming 26-34 record in 2020, but he’ll get an opportunity to right the ship next season.
Second baseman Robinson Cano was one of Rojas’ most productive players in 2020, but he won’t play next year after receiving a 162-game suspension without pay last week for performance-enhancing drugs. The Mets are not considering releasing Cano, who’s due $48MM from 2022-23, “at this point,” per Alderson (via DiComo). However, Alderson admitted that could change “down the road.”
Like Cano, outfielder Michael Conforto is facing an uncertain future with the Mets. Conforto, 27, only has one season of arbitration control left, though Alderson stated (per DiComo) that the club will approach his camp about a contract extension sometime in the coming months.
“Yes, at some point, I’m sure we will broach that topic and take their temperature, and see where those things stand,” Alderson said.
Conforto is coming off a career year in which he slashed .322/.412/.515 (157 wRC+) with nine home runs across 233 plate appearances. Barring an extension, Conforto should make anywhere from $9MM to $13.6MM in arbitration.
Sandy lied to the reporter when he said at “this point” no. He knows he going to cut cano after this year.
The cardinals should trade for conforto. They need a LH power hitting OF.
What would the cardinals give?
Ask for Flaherty.
I love conforto but no we can’t do that I’m not willing to give up O’Neill Carlson (any of the rest of the top 5 prospects) or O’Neill and the cardinals won’t either so we won’t get him and shouldn’t if it means giving up top 5 prospect
It’s probably not a realistic move for either team. Conforto should be extended by the Mets
Cardinals trade Lane Thomas, Dexter Fowler, Matt Carpenter, Daniel Ponce DeLeon for Conforto!!
Lolol you sound like the Mets fans who want to trade Rosario for Lindor. Get outta here with your spare parts for a great player.
That’s terrible. No way Mets would do that trade and no way cardinals offer that because it’s so insulting
You should always explore trade routes with Ponce DeLeon.
No they shouldn’t.
Yeah we will get right on that, try resigning Osuna, who you should have signed last year.
Thing is, unless you can void a way to void that contract, that’s a ton of money to eat
Cohen has no problem eating it. That’s what is great about him. Bringing him back would disrupt the infield and they won’t do that.
Lol speaking as if you know Cohen’s history. Let’s give the guy a year before we start building him statues.
Cohen stated he was prepared to lose $400 million the first two years.
When I’m right in a year, please I want my apology..
Only if you apologize for all the things you got wrong in the last 2 years. Haha.
Like what??? If the Mets rotation wasn’t missing Thor and stroman the whole year I would have been right about them making the playoffs
Mets were a lot more away than a healthy Syndergaard & Stroman from making the playoffs last season
there has been a lot you have been wrong about Metsfan
Marlins not making the playoffs (during the season way after thor and stroman were out). Even i admitted i was wrong on that as i didnt think they had a chance with that team.
No chance the mets end up in last place. I didnt think that would happen either but i never said they would end up there.
Mets not needing a catcher.
should i keep going or will you make up an excuse for all of those why you shouldnt apologize or admit you were wrong?
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Back on topic, Thing is i dont think Cohen will eat that contract but Cano will develop random injuries ala ellsbury or perhaps his juice will be spiked again. The best you can hope for is them to give him a trial in spring training and if he is back to 2019 production they will IL him or offer him some kind of defer deal similar to saberhagen and bonilla so we atleast have the roster spot back atleast.
@MetsFan22
What did you get wrong? How about my personal nominee for comment of 2020?
“Even in 60 games, the Marlins will finish 15 games out of fourth place; 25 games out of first.”
– MetsFan22
Ok but marlins got lucky. Everyone knows the marlins are a last place team over a full year.
The Mets do not need a catcher to be competitive… marlins make the playoffs was luck.. Nothing more. The Mets are tied for 4th and everyone knows the marlins would have been in last in a 162 games season. When I made the prediction both syndergaard and stroman were healthy. It’s not the same. So not really a lot wrong (just luck forced me to get two wrong)
“I was never wrong. The world was wrong!”
MetsFan22: If a toad had wings then he wouldn’t be bumping his @$$. If Soroka didn’t get hurt AND if Hamels pitched then the Braves probably would’ve got passed the Dodgers. If JV didn’t get hurt then the Astros probably would’ve had a winning record and possibly been A.L. West champs.
MetsFan22: Will you do all of us a favor and stop putting your foot in your mouth? The more you spout off, the more obvious that you’re uninformed at
best & delirious at worst when it comes to looking at teams objectively.
Metsfan22: “The Mets do not need a catcher to be competitive”
So Thomas Nido is your starting catcher (a career under 200 hitter) maybe Ali Sanchez (no power and from his minor league stats a career AAAA catcher to be at best)? Because right now those are the only options on the mets at the catcher position. Or do you plan on moving maybe Dom Smith to play catcher, maybe JD Smith. Otherwise i see them signing a catcher at some point this offseason.
And you kept saying the marlins prediction throughout the season (around 30 games into the season) well after thor and stroman were not available to the team. I know this because i agreed with you at that point.
and Mets were tied for 4th place aka last place. In the end, they would have been considered last place based on the ranking system as they scored less runs than the nationals.
you can blame luck or the fact mets are injury prone or that the marlins clicked alot earlier than people expected or maybe the moon was in retrograde so mets pitchers couldnt grip the ball properly at night, or maybe their were solar flares during mets pitching. Marlins were even worse off because of covid … hell half their team if not more were on the covid list at the same time. I applaud the Marlins and Mattingly and what they did last season and to be honest im more scared of the marlins than i am of the phillies or the nationals.
I don’t care who you are you have a problem giving away 40 million dollars
The things you said were all right! Lol. And hamles wouldn’t have made a huge difference but Soroka would
Injuries are part of the game though, that’s what makes depth so important. Just a friendly piece of advice as you get older, people respect someone who admits they’re wrong (even if they aren’t) than they do someone who is “always correct except when luck forces them to get it wrong”.
Metsfan22 Bro, You’re fighting reality. They made the playoffs, they beat the Cubs in they playoffs. Thor would have helped but SS, C, CF are issues for the Mets. We are not far off but still need to fix those 3 spots. Now Andres Gimenez, who took ss over I really like his game and maybe solves the problem at SS
Porcello, Matz, Wacha, and Gsellman started 29 out of 60 games for the Mets, with ERAs of 5.64, 9.68, 6.62, & 9.64 respectively, and a record of 2-16. Only 2 starters, deGrom & Peterson, had an ERA under 5, and both missed games due to injury. Even so, the team finished what, 3 or 4 games out of the playoffs? I find it hard to believe that a healthy Syndergaard and Stroman- maybe even just one of the two- would not have made the difference. The rotation was absolutely the single biggest reason the team did not make the playoffs.
Sandy was the best candidate anyway.
So then how did he lie? He said “not at this time”
Cut Cano with 3 more years left!? Doubtful.
@metsfan22 why when the idiot will test positive a 3rd time and they get out from the contract. They don’t have to make a decision till a year from now. He’s pals with Jeter and Arod two of the biggest cheaters in the sports history.
Y, if they cut Cano the would pay him $48 million for not playing. If the Mets IR him so insurance pays the $48 million. (they’ll make up an injury or at his age could be injured for real)
Open the flood gates here comes the Mets fandom
How weird that an article about the Mets would make Mets fans comment…
Yeah the whole baseball world revolves around the Mets.lol
Finally! Someone who really understands!
How DARE Mets fans care so much about the Mets. We should care about all teams, EQUALLY. While we’re at it, let’s not have wins and losses anymore, only ties.
Yeah getting excited about Super Steve
If you want Brodie he’s at 19th hole at Bushwood CC tipping the caddy 50 cents
Only after bumming a quarter from his golf buddy Jeff Wilpon who lends it to him at 110% interest.
Poor Brodie. He can go back to being an agent & pick up an easy $20 mill next year.
Brodie cannot just run back easy. You think his ex clients are running back to him.
Dump Cano. Give Conforto a 5 year team friendly.
Here’s a cigar for you, Mr. Epstein.
I wonder how Sandy’s going to “take Conforto’s temperature”……I mean, it’s New York, man….
I’m inclined to agree with them holding off on hiring a POBO, based on how the market has unfolded so far. I’m also happy to see Rojas getting another shot.
Sounds like Theo is holding to that year off & they’ll stick with Sandy in the interim.
You wait Sandy will hire Neil Huntington. They always had respect for one another.
They need to dump Cano, and sign a good manager and sign Conforto.
The Mets have a good manager
Do they? I’m not willing to pass judgment on him one way or the other after such a short sampling.
Look, the Mets have been a train wreck on its way to a dumpster fire for a while. Through it, scouting and player development continued to be pretty strong.
Give Sandy (Theo next year) a little time; I think the arrow’s pointing up. And it just isn’t that huge of a mountain to climb in the NL East.
They have starters to compete if they get it together any given year.
Really missed listening to Alderson say a million words but never actually say a thing.
Maybe because you were standing too close to the garbage drum, Carlos15
The Mets aren’t that good and they’re in a competitive division, Braves, Marlins and Phil’s all look better, time will tell, having strong pitching would b a plus
LOL. Nats and Phillies are NOT better. I would say right now braves are 1st and any of the Nats, Mets, and Phillies could get 2nd-4th. Depending on offseason moves. But I do believe if the Mets do amazing this offseason they could pass the Braves if the Braves don’t do a good job of replacing Ozuna Bat or they have a bad offseason. But I would say Braves are my favorites to win division rn
The thing is the Mets have money to spend. They got the best pitcher in baseball in degrom and if they supplement their roster (Realmuto, Bauer, etc.) And their pitching staff finds a way to stay healthy and we see the Edwin Diaz of last year they could make a run. This is coming from a braves fan. You never know in the NL East
i have a feeling it will be the same as i thought last year at this time, simmilar to what you are saying. Braves are head and shoulders above the rest, (though i wouldnt say a lock for the division title) while the Mets, Phillies, ans Nats will probably be 2-4 based on their offseason moves (i would put them in that order right now, but its very close)
I completing agree. But I’m a little different with the Braves. I have them as the best team right now. I just don’t think they are head and shoulders like you. But other than that I completely agree
Phillies have a lot of work to do to put good pitchers on the mound, enough to stay in a race until October. And if they have to replace JTR behind the plate, now you are talking a out a lot of work to do. The Nationals best players are still young, and if they mature, they can carry a team, but they have their holes as well. The Braves are young and the team to beat in rhe NL East
The LOLMets. Even with all of Stevie’s money, they still can’t get the top talent of other teams to come aboard.
And you know this how?
And what big free agent did they miss out on? Scott Schebler?
Dude sandy has a HUGE 4 head
I know this wasn’t the plan, but I’m fine with Sandy acting as GM for a year. I’d rather they eventually make the right hire than force something now.
Also, hope they can find an extension with Conforto that works for both sides.
Sounds good to me too
They will not dump Cano at this time for a variety of reasons. After next season and when his suspension is over, they will revisit the contract and see what happens from there. I would like to see them lock up Conforto, but he is a Boras client and it is in Mike’s corner. HE says he wants to stay and be a Met, so will he be one of the rare Boris clients to go against him? Sign Bauer, Hand, and Springer. Then get McCann for behind the plate. They will have the funds to make this happen so go for it! Lindor is not worth it and our farm system is depleted thanks to Brodie and his screw ups. Let’s Go Mets!
I agree with everything you said but instead of going for bauer and assuming he doesnt go back to the yanks i like tanaka. He is a little more consistent and if he can handle the yanks he can surely handle the Mets. Also the money saved on bauer give semien or simmons a 1 yr pillow deal. I think this would give you options for a defensive infield or a power infield depending on who is pitching and a pretty flexible infield to account for injuries which the mets are known for.
Sign Bauer, McCann, Hand, Springer and Kim
Trade Conforto if they can’t get a reasonable contract done. Trade 2 of 3 from Rosario and the SS prospects. Take back FOR SP if Conforto is part of the deal or best available SP and prospect depth preferably at catcher. Skip signing Springer if Conforto signs and payroll is an issue
It puts them over the CBT, but not horribly so.
I’d rather Realmuto over Bauer… finally get plus D at the catching position. The rotation doesn’t need another top guy, it needs depth. Cohen may very well be willing to go over the luxury threshold. Although I generally don’t think it’s a good idea, this would be the time for a spending spree if there ever is one.
They don’t need to dump Cano as they aren’t paying him anyway next season. I do believe they will release him after next season though
To all who say dump Cano now… It makes no sense to do so now. He could join the Cespedes Boar Hunting Academy next summer and get into an accident. Or get hurt training. Or test positive again in Spring ’22. Guess what? The Mets are off the hook (to a degree).
Plus, if they dump him now they have to pay him. He only gets docked if he’s on a team and suspended.
I’m a Mets fan.
Why do Mets fans think that they’re the only team that ever has injuries. The only team that has “what if’s…” the Mets have been a disappointment because they’re not good. They’re not built correctly. Nothing more, nothing less.
If an extension with Conforto doesn’t look like it will come together this offseason, would it be a ridiculous idea to trade him? They have good starting pitching and a decent lineup but it seems like one thing that hinders their success is the lack of depth. If your owner is talking about building your upper minors system by buying up as many 6 year minor league free agents as you can as a short term priority, wouldn’t trading a soon to be free agent help with you with the longer term goals? If you signed a CF and moved Nimmo to a corner, Conforto could probably get you some higher end prospects including some major league ready or close pieces to improve depth on the 40 man. It’s not really been the Mets way to prioritize the future, but maybe that could change with the new regime? I feel like you could still field a good product without Conforto while putting the team in better position for the next few years.
Sandy Alderson’s press conference in summary: “I’ve got NOTHING!!” LOL
As a long time Phillies fan, it pains me to say I think the Mets will win, and rather easily, the NL East in 2021. And I say that even if Realmuto, Bauer, Springer or another top flight FA isn’t signed.
I may be a cult of one, but I think this is the year Matz puts it all together and becomes a reliable #4 starting pitcher.
I love D. Smith, Nimmo and Conforto. Solid hitters, one and all.
Resign porcello, he was a lot better than his record showed….still need to dump diaz..lace cano’s urine so he fails the 3rd test ( im only kidding,well not really,…)..
Mets are in a interesting spot right now, A new owner willing to spend in an increasingly competitive division. only a couple of pieces away and adding a right handed defense oriented outfielder to two left handed hitting corner outfielders and balance that line up out I feel is a priority. I would settle for mcann, baurer, and springer. won’t break the bank as opposed to going for jtr, springer and baurer
I agree a very interesting place. Our talent on the way up suggests to me spend wisely. Bauer and Realmuto place the club as a play off contender. Short series work for pitching in that respect the Mets with Bauer would often hold the edge. Signing Realmuto allows for the development of one of our prized prospects. Marisnick like JD was held back in Houston his development should give ample time for another prized centerfielder to develop. Address the needs and give time, time.
Conforto is homegrown, grew up in the area and has been a gamer for the Mets. Offer up a 7 year deal with a mutual option, front load it like Harper and let both sides feel good about themselves.
What surprises me the most is the diversity of all these different opinions, each of value in their own respects. As I review Steve Cohen opening remarks and the immediate hiring of Sandy Alderson, I see two separate time frames being designed for today and one for 3 to 5 years. Today Realmuto and Bauer accomplish the immediate goals of play off competition. Allowing current minor league talent the often required 3 to 5 years to arrive.
Im uncertain who makes the decisions on having a player tested for PED’S. I was thinking what a great idea if Mets management got a tip and got Cano tested to open up payroll to sign a big time free agent