The Mets continued interviews Tuesday for a managerial vacancy they could fill by the end of next week.
At this point it’s a six-horse race, with a mixture of veteran leadership and up-and-comers who are widely respected throughout the game.
A breakdown of the field:
Brad Ausmus
Current job: Out of baseball
Strengths: The former catcher certainly has a grasp of how to handle a pitching staff and is said to have a good relationship with Max Scherzer, who pitched for the Tigers for one season with Ausmus as the manager. Ausmus led the Tigers to the postseason that year (2014) and spent three additional seasons on the job before managing the Angels in 2019.
Weaknesses: Ausmus, 52, isn’t regarded as a strong tactician and there are questions how he would handle the New York spotlight and demands that come with serving as the voice for the team. After limited success with the Tigers and Angels he would be a tough sell to the fan base.
Joe Espada
Current job: Astros bench coach
Strengths: He’s already familiar with general manager Billy Eppler, following a stint as a Yankees special assistant during Eppler’s tenure as assistant GM. Espada remained with the organization on Joe Girardi’s coaching staff before Eppler’s departure. A native of Puerto Rico, the 46-year-old Espada could become a solid influence on Francisco Lindor, who struggled to acclimate in his first season with the Mets.
Weaknesses: Mostly, the question of Espada’s readiness to become a first-time major league manager in a fishbowl. Espada was Astros bench coach in 2018, during the time frame of the team’s illegal sign stealing, but he was never implicated in wrongdoing by MLB.
Bob Geren
Current job: Dodgers bench coach
Strengths: Holds previous managerial experience with Oakland and has spent the last six seasons as the bench coach for a perennial powerhouse that won the World Series in 2020. Geren also has an understanding of New York, having played for the Yankees before working as the Mets bench coach for four seasons. The 60-year-old Geren is deeply versed in analytics, but old-school enough to ensure the balance doesn’t become too slanted.
Weaknesses: Communication was an issue during his tenure managing Oakland and led to his firing in 2011. The biggest question might be whether he’s enough of a presence to command a clubhouse, albeit one that has shifted this offseason toward veteran players who can take cues from each other.
Don Kelly
Current job: Pirates bench coach
Strengths: A fast learner who has ascended quickly through the ranks following a nine-year major league career that ended in 2017. The 41-year-old Kelly was teammates with Scherzer in Detroit.
“[Kelly] is smart,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I think we are going to see a guy with a really high ceiling. He asks good questions. He’s organized.”
Weaknesses: The Mets are coming off two straight first-time major league managers (three if you include Carlos Beltran, who departed before he ever managed a game) in Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas and might benefit from somebody who won’t be learning on Steve Cohen’s dime.
Matt Quatraro
Current job: Rays bench coach
Strengths: He’s an analytically strong and well-respected voice in the dugout for a Rays team that has won the AL East the last two seasons and reached the World Series in 2020. The 48-year-old Quatraro has worked under two highly regarded managers in Terry Francona and Kevin Cash. He’s been considered for other managerial openings in recent offseasons. Weaknesses: See above with Kelly.
Buck Showalter
Current job: MLB/YES networks analyst
Strengths: Would bring instant credibility to the dugout, after 20 seasons as a manager with the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers and Orioles. The 65-year-old Showalter’s no-nonsense approach would be embraced by fans who endured players giving them a thumbs-down last season as a way of booing the patrons. Showalter is also media savvy and would embrace his pregame and postgame responsibilities with reporters. He is well-respected by Scherzer, only bolstering his case.
Weaknesses: Showalter’s reputation has been that of a control freak. But with age comes mellowing, and perhaps he’s ready for a more collaborative phase of his career.