CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Mets’ search for a general manager has taken a turn in an unorthodox direction.
Adam Cromie, a former Nationals executive who left baseball in 2017 to become an attorney, has received multiple interviews with the Mets and is the front-runner for their GM opening, according to industry sources. An offer could come from the Mets within the next 24-48 hours, unless team owner Steve Cohen hears something in conversations with Cromie that nixes his candidacy.
The Washington Post first reported Mets’ interest in Cromie, who became assistant GM with the Nationals in 2014. Cromie had spent the previous seven years working in the organization.
Cromie is employed by Jones Day law firm in Pittsburgh, where his focus is mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters, according to his LinkedIn page.
A person who worked with Cromie with the Nationals described him as a blend of old-school scouting and analytics-driven. Cromie, who attended law school at Georgetown while working for the Nationals, left the organization for family reasons, according to the person who worked with him.
“He’s super intelligent and he’s a baseball guy — really knowledgeable,” the person said.
The Mets are using the search firm Korn Ferry and two others to vet candidates, according to sources. The 38-year-old Cromie graduated from Allegheny College and earned a masters from Massachusetts-Amherst.
“He went out a lot to scout players — he didn’t just stay in the office,” said the person who worked with Cromie in Washington. “He really feels strong about scouting. He’s smart and he knows analytics and he’s a good people person and administrative person.”
Speaking to reporters at the general managers’ meetings earlier Tuesday — his first public comments since the regular season concluded — Mets team president Sandy Alderson said what initially began as a hunt for two individuals, a president of baseball operations and general manager, has been reduced to essentially a GM search.
Alderson wouldn’t provide a timeline on a hire, but said he’s hopeful he has already spoken to the candidate who will accept the job and he might have more clarity by the end of the week.
“We are continuing the process and talk to people,” Alderson said. “We have already blown through what most people would say is a reasonable timeline.”
Alderson and Cohen have spoken to several candidates to lead the front office, but for various reasons haven’t found the right fit. In some cases the Mets have failed to receive permission to speak with individuals, but Alderson also said some candidates might find the New York spotlight too bright. He also didn’t dismiss the notion that potential hires seeking autonomy might have concerns about Alderson’s role in the organization.
“If it’s an issue and I’ve talked to people, we talk through it,” Alderson said. “I really don’t think that’s an issue.”
Alderson called the notion that his son Bryn’s involvement in the front office as an assistant GM is a problem for potential candidates a “red herring.” Bryn Alderson was elevated to the position in July after serving as pro scouting director.
“I expect [Bryn] as well as anyone else in the organization to be loyal to and work hard for whoever comes in,” Sandy Alderson said.
The Mets began the offseason with Theo Epstein, Billy Beane and David Stearns among the names on their radar. Epstein, who built World Series winners with the Red Sox and Cubs (he’s now serving as a consultant for MLB), spoke with Cohen, at which time it was decided by both parties it wasn’t the right fit. Beane, the Athletics’ longtime executive vice president, held an exploratory conversation with Alderson, but withdrew from consideration — he later cited an unwillingness to uproot his family. Stearns, the Brewers’ president of baseball operations, was denied permission to speak with the Mets.
Among those who have withdrawn from consideration are Giants GM Scott Harris, Cardinals GM Mike Girsh, Dodgers assistant GM Brandon Gomes and Red Sox assistant GM Raquel Ferreira. In addition, Brewers GM Matt Arnold received a contract extension from the club after the Mets showed interest in him. Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro was denied permission to interview with the Mets, but only after holding an exploratory conversation with the club and telling Toronto officials he wasn’t interested in the job.
“In some cases we haven’t gotten permission, I think people are comfortable where they are and whether it be a family situation or something professional and I think in some cases admittedly there is a reluctance to come to New York,” Alderson said. “But I think it’s more about New York than the organization or what have you. It’s a big stage and some people would just prefer to be elsewhere.”