Brodie Van Wagenen explains why Mets passed on hiring Joe Girardi

The New York Mets surprised some people by passing on an experienced candidate for manager in Joe Girardi and hiring a rookie manager in Carlos Beltran.

General manager Brodie Van Wagenen spoke a bit on the subject Monday at a news conference introducing Beltran as the team’s new manager. Van Wagenen suggested that Girardi was less open to a collaborative process and that he wasn’t a huge fan of the environment that Girardi might bring.

Looking for why Girardi is not #Mets manager? Van Wagenen mentioned being able to “exhale” when go into mgr office rather than “inhale” in weariness. Said of Beltran that he has “appetite to collaborate.” Became clear in process that BVW did not feel connection with Girardi.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 4, 2019

Girardi is a World Series winner who navigated the gauntlet at Yankee manager for nearly a decade. It was suggested after his departure, however, that he had issues communicating with his players. The comment about collaboration is also telling, as Girardi is experienced enough to have his own opinions about how to manage and operate a clubhouse. Those apparently didn’t go with what the Mets were looking for.