The Mets’ two most prominent coaching openings are no longer vaccant.
With Kevin Long pursuing other opportunities after his failed bid at the Mets’ managerial opening, the team is prepared to promote Pat Roessler to hitting coach, according to industry sources. And Dave Eiland is set to become the team’s pitching coach.
The 57-year-old Roessler spent the last three seasons as the Mets’ assistant hitting coach, under Long. Roessler will return on a two-year contract.
The 51-year-old Eiland was previously the pitching coach with the Royals and Yankees.
In addition to Roessler and Eiland, new manager Mickey Callaway’s staff will include Ricky Bones, who will be retained as the bullpen coach, according to a source. Bones had been in contention for the team’s pitching-coach opening and was also in the mix to join Alex Cora’s staff with the Red Sox.
Eiland was selected from a pool of candidates that included former Oakland pitching coach Curt Young, Mets minor league pitching coordinator Ron Romanick and Indians bullpen coach Jason Bere. Eiland was the pitching coach for the Royals team that beat the Mets in the 2015 World Series.
Long spent the last three seasons as the Mets hitting coach and interviewed as Terry Collins’ replacement at manager. After the job went to Callaway, the former Indians pitching coach, Long interviewed for the Nationals’ managerial vacancy. That job went to former Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez.
The 50-year-old Long, whose contract with the Mets expired Tuesday, could still factor into the Yankees’ managerial search. He has also been linked to the hitting coach openings with the Nationals and Yankees. Long’s departure from the Mets comes as little surprise, given that he had expressed reservations about returning under a new managerial regime in Flushing.
Roessler was Long’s handpicked assistant after arriving from the Yankees before the 2015 season. Likewise, Roessler is expected to have a significant say in who the Mets select as the new assistant hitting coach. Candidates could include Ryan Ellis, the organization’s short-season hitting coordinator, who spent the final month of the regular season with the club as a guest instructor.
The Mets likely will need a new first-base coach, according to a source, as Tom Goodwin is unlikely to return. The team is also searching for a bench coach, with Dick Scott not expected back.
As The Post reported last week, Tim Teufel has been discussed as a possibility to return as infield coach. Teufel, a former Mets third-base coach, was reassigned within the organization after the 2016 season. If he returns, it would likely be as the first-base coach.
Glenn Sherlock, who replaced Teufel as the third base coach, is expected back in his same role for next season.
The Mets have until Monday — five days after the World Series concludes — to notify Asdrubal Cabrera and Jerry Blevins whether their options will be picked up for next season. According to sources, the team will almost certainly exercise both options. Cabrera’s option is for $8.5 million. Blevins has an option for $7 million.