The Mets’ coaching staff will have a new look in 2016.
Bob Geren, who has spent the last four seasons as manager Terry Collins’ top lieutenant in the dugout, will leave the organization to take a similar job with the Dodgers, according to industry sources.
The 54-year-old Geren, a former catcher with West Coast roots, interviewed for the Dodgers’ managerial job that went to Dave Roberts. In addition to his role as the Mets’ bench coach, Geren has served as the team’s catching instructor, working extensively with Travis d’Arnaud.
Tim Teufel, the team’s third-base coach, is a strong candidate to move into the bench-coach role. The Mets likely will stay within the organization for a third-base coach if Teufel is shifted, but it is unclear if fan-favorite Wally Backman will be considered for the staff.
Backman has managed the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas to the Pacific Coast League playoffs the last two years.
Another candidate to join the major league staff is Double-A Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez, who spent September with the Mets as a guest coach. Lopez spent part of his playing career as a catcher, which could be appealing to team brass with Geren departed.
It marks the second straight offseason in which the Mets will make at least one coaching hire. Last year, the club hired hitting coach Kevin Long and assistant Pat Roessler after Lamar Johnson and Luis Natera were reassigned within the organization.
Geren, who managed Oakland from 2007-11, is well-versed in analytics, and became what the front office deemed a nice complement to Collins’ more old-school approach to the game.
The Mets had until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players. Ruben Tejada, Lucas Duda, Addison Reed, Carlos Torres, Jenrry Mejia, Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia and Josh Edgin were the players who fit that category.
The biggest question mark surrounded Tejada, who was not a certainty to return as club officials considered the possibility of auditioning a less-expensive option, Matt Reynolds, at shortstop along with Wilmer Flores. Tejada, who stands to make about $2.5 million next season, is recovering from a broken leg he sustained in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, on Chase Utley’s late takeout slide.
There were indications the Mets would tender a contract to Mejia, who is suspended until July after twice failing drug tests in 2015. The Mets would not have to pay Mejia while he serves his suspension.