The Mets have hired Elizabeth Benn as the team’s new director of baseball operations, according to multiple reports (including from SNY’s Andy Martino). Benn has been a member of the MLB central office since 2017, beginning as an intern and then working in the labor relations and baseball operations departments. The hiring makes Benn the highest-ranking female baseball ops official in the history of the Mets franchise, as Benn joins the increasingly long list of women hired for prominent front office and on-field jobs with Major League organizations.
More from the National League…
- Elly De La Cruz was an international signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, joining the Reds for only a $65K bonus in part because the Reds were basically the only team to give him any serious scouting attention. “He was tall and rangy and athletic, and we liked that he had some bat speed. But he wasn’t really on the radar,” Reds VP of player development Shawn Pender told The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith. Even after a decent Dominican Summer League performance in 2019, De La Cruz told Goldsmith that he was still worried that he might be cut when the Reds and other teams released several minor leaguers as part of the reduction in the number of minor league teams. However, the organization hung onto him, and De La Cruz might now be Cincinnati’s shortstop of the future after a huge 2021 season. The 20-year-old hit .296/.336/.539 with eight home runs over 265 combined plate appearances in rookie ball and A-ball, with his five-tool potential drawing trade attention from other teams and plaudits from prospect evaluators. De La Cruz went from being a fairly obscure prospect to a staple in top-100 lists from Fangraphs (who ranks De La Cruz 59th), Keith Law (69th), Baseball Prospectus (70th) and Baseball America (77th).
- Assuming the Rule 5 Draft happens whatsoever, the Pirates have some quality talent available for selection, which is a by-product of the team’s glut of intriguing minor leaguers and lack of space on the 40-man roster. Cal Mitchell was one of those players left off the 40-man in November, and Jason Mackey of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette figures Mitchell’s bat, ability to play the outfield, “athleticism and professional approach” could attract teams looking for a player who can actually stick on an active 26-man roster for the entire season. Mitchell (who turns 23 on March 8) was a second-round pick in the 2017 draft, and has hit .267/.328/.411 over 1613 PA in the minors. He made his Triple-A debut last season in brief fashion, appearing in seven games with the Pirates’ top affiliate.
Great article again, Mark- thanks. Congratulations to Elizabeth. Owners: BREAK THE MLBPA UNION!!!
Screw the owners
I feel the same way; the fans & small businesses are the ones getting hurt; I’ll watch Bryce Harper in Japan….
I’d go to more games with replacement players. I’m sick of spoiled millionaire athletes.
Any word on what’s been happening with negotiations today? They’ve been in a meeting since 1 pm eastern; Almost 6 hours.
Tacos really should be part of these CBA negotiations. Honestly I think it could be the very thing that gets it done. Free tacos should help even out the difference in the bonus pool offers.
No chance of you getting a life, I see.
@Bill M
Do you realize how easy it is to post a comment on here? I post comments from work, from hiking trails, from restaurants, etc. It takes just a few seconds to post a comment and you can post from anywhere.
have you considered not being a jerk?
@48 hahahaha you are funny! I agree free tacos make everything better.
Tacos, some cornhole matches and of course, lots of beer!
@goru Yes please !
That should get the negotiations done. 🙂
How about NO TACOS until they agree on an issue. Each issue agreed upon by the other side gets them a taco. Want more tacos, agree to more demands. Pavlovian Negotiatons!
According to Heyman a deal lol
If there is a World Series and a player steals a base, you can get a free taco. Be patient.
Congratulations Elizabeth Benn and Welcome to the Mets Organization!
I’m sure she would be very successful in 29 other organizations but Queens is cursed.
48-team: Very witty.. You’re a bigger iddiot than ever.
I recently encountered him and did notice that he sees the world very differently from anyone with an IQ above 69.
My condolences to Elizabeth Benn.
RIP The Derek Jeter Marlins Dynasty
Jeter made his money back and is fleeing the sinking ship.
No good players left to ship to the Yankees.
@Canosucks
I know you’re trolling, but you did hit on something. He paid $25 million to be a shareholder. He was being paid $5 million per year as the CEO. He’s gone after 5 years.
Bye bye Jeet-uh
The Pirates Outfield outside of Reynolds was horrible last year. If Mitchell could stick on another team’s 26 man roster for the whole season the Pirates may want to think about keeping him themselves
They also have Swaggerty,,Smith-Njigba, Suwinski that the Bucs have on the 40 man who are prospects. They were short on spots on the 40 man to protect everyone
They already have a handful of outfielders who should start the year at Triple-A. Travis Swaggerty, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Matt Fraizer, and Jack Suwinski are all pretty solid prospects. So even if they lose Mitchell, their glut of OF prospects will dampen the blow.
Is Frazier rule 5? Can’t remember…..
Dang spell check…. Fraizer….
He is not. He was a 2019 draft pick and will probably be in the majors next season.
Good deal. Yes, good chance he will be in the majors nest year. Can’t wait till the minors start up to see how the prospects have improved. There are several guys that are said to have taken some steps forward. Guys like Malone and Bolton who are rule 5 eligible.
Mason Martin. Would have been a good player to protect. Left hand power bat with passable defense at first would play well at PNC. my guess why Yoshi got a one year deal, Hoping he stays with the team
Am I too late to pretend to care about a woman being promoted?
I can’t figure out when it is ok and not ok to mention gender?
Just be glad you don’t have to worry about her gender being some WTF pronoun you have to look up in the dictionary
Mlbtrade rumors, please do not forget that the Mets were owned by Joan Payson and after by Lorinda DeRoulet. Before Jean Yawkey and Marge Schott. No, they did not necessarily make the decisions on trades but they certainly had input into Operations.
@Mark Polischuk: It may have been better stated that Elizabeth Benn is the highest ranking female in the Mets organization since the ownership of Joan Payson/Lorinda DeRoulet.