The New York Mets may have already decided on who their next manager will be, even if the hire will not take place until the offseason.
Carlos Beltran is the Mets’ first choice to manage the team next season, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. On Monday, Beltran confirmed that the Mets had even approached him to take over the team immediately after Carlos Mendoza’s firing in June, but he declined the opportunity.
“Yes, I had conversations with a few people within the organization, and I don’t know, I just didn’t feel it was the right thing for me to do,” Beltrán said, via Tyler Kepner of The Athletic. “And I have to tell you that, having the opportunity to manage, I would say that that’s probably in my bucket list.”
Beltran is being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, which may have impacted his decision. Trying to come to grips with the Mets job while simultaneously taking part in the induction ceremonies would have been a challenge.
The Mets hired Beltran as their manager in 2019, but parted ways with him once his role in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal was revealed. They never really wanted to do that, however, and his name immediately came up after Mendoza’s dismissal.
Andy Green is managing the Mets for the rest of the season. Once it is over, it sounds like Beltran will get the first chance to take the gig.
