Mets general manager Sandy Alderson shocked the team's fans and the whole MLB community Tuesday when he announced he is taking a leave of absence to focus on his health after his cancer returned. Between his health and the Mets' struggles on the field, Alderson might never return to the front office, as some were reporting Wednesday that the Mets are preparing to conduct an interview for a new GM.
If they indeed hire a new general manager, here are some prospects they might consider:
John Ricco: The Mets' senior vice president and assistant general manager is the front-runner to take over for Alderson if the Mets stay in-house. He is one of the three people who are taking on Alderson's responsibilities in the interim. Ricco has been with the Mets since 2004 and, of course, has many allies and friends within the organization. He is known to be organized and knowledgeable about all aspects of baseball, on the field and off. Alderson has said in the past that he endorses Ricco to succeed him whenever he retires.
J.P. Ricciardi: A special assistant to the general manager, Ricciardi is another one of the executives filling Alderson's role in the interim. His first experience with the Mets was actually on the field for their minor league affiliates. After deciding to quit playing, Ricciardi coached in the Yankees' farm system until he became the general manager for the Toronto Blue Jays. He rejoined the Mets as an executive in 2011.
Omar Minaya: The former Mets general manager and current special assistant to the GM, Minaya is one-third of the triumvirate running the Mets while Alderson is out. He started his baseball career playing in the minor leagues, as well as in the Dominican Republic and Italy. He then joined the scouting department for the Rangers until he was hired by the Mets as an assistant GM. He moved to the Expos as a general manager before returning to the Mets as GM. After being fired following the 2010 season, Minaya spent working for the Padres. He returned to the Mets yet again in December 2017. Since he's already led the Mets' front office once before, he might be a tough sell to fans.
Tim Naehring: Naehring wouldn't have to go far if he were hired as the Mets' general manager, as he is currently the Yankees' vice president of baseball operations. Naehring played third base for the Boston Red Sox for eight seasons until he was forced to retire due to an injury. His love for baseball didn't stop there, though, as he immediately joined the player development team for the Reds. The Yankees hired him as a scout in 2007, and he moved up the ranks and was promoted to his current positon in 2015. He has been credited for having a hand in bringing the Yankees to the position they're in today. If Naehring got the job, he can expect to be asked whether he'd consider hiring Joe Girardi as his manager.
LISTEN: Boomer & Gio: Thoughts And Prayers With Sandy Alderson
J.J. Picollo: The Royals' assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel started his career as a college coach, eventually becoming an area scout and then the Braves' director of minor league operations. In 2006, Picollo joined Kansas City as the director of player development. He was promoted to his current position in 2015.
Josh Byrnes: Byrnes is the current senior vice president of baseball operations for the Dodgers. He started his career scouting for the Cleveland Indians in 1994 and spent time as an assistant general manager in both Colorado and Boston. After he proved his talent, he was appointed executive vice president and general manager for the Diamondbacks in 2005 and then moved on in the same position to the Padres in 2011. Byrnes was the runner-up to Alderson in the Mets' GM search in the fall of 2010.
Jared Porter: Porter is the Diamondbacks' senior vice president and assistant general manager. He's been a part of a World Series team four times -- three times in Boston, once with the Cubs. In Boston and Chicago, Porter learned under Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer. After the Cubs' World Series win in 2016, he joined the Diamondbacks in his current position.
MORE: Mets Preparing To Conduct Search For New General Manager
Jason McLeod: The senior vice president of scouting and player development for the Cubs, McLeod is one of the hottest GM prospects in baseball. He oversaw a variety of strong drafts during his time in Boston and is considered to be a large part of their success. McLeod is one of the most well-respected executives in Chicago and has proven his skill with both the Red Sox and the Cubs.
Chaim Bloom: Bloom is the Rays' senior vice president of baseball operations. He started his time in Tampa Bay as an intern in 2005. He was eventually promoted to assistant head of minor league operations in 2008, and then director of baseball operations in 2011. His all-around knowledge of the game helped him earn the Rays' GM job.
