Mets GM Finalist Bloom Releases Brief Statement Rather Than Speaking To Press

Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom
Photo credit USA TODAY Images
By WFAN.com

Chaim Bloom, one of the three finalists for the Mets' general manager job, declined to speak to reporters Thursday, issuing a brief statement instead. 

The Mets gave all three finalists the opportunity to talk to the media in conference calls this week, an offer only former Rangers and Brewers GM Doug Melvin took them up on. Bloom cited his current position as the Tampa Bay Rays' senior vice president of baseball operations for not speaking to the press, the Daily News reported.

"We had a productive meeting yesterday," the 35-year-old executive said. "There was a lot of baseball conversation and I enjoyed the time we spent together."

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His comments were more succinct than player agent Brodie Van Wagenen, whose statement Monday read: 

“In my role as an agent, my solution is to create opportunities for players to be successful both on and off the field. By creating partnerships between players and teams, the interests of all parties can be aligned. If the players are able to reach their peak potential, the fans will be rewarded with a competitive team that can contend for championships year in and year out. The Clubs benefit with compelling, sustainable and profitable entertainment franchises; and the players are rewarded with a platform to realize their childhood dreams while receiving compensation consistent with their tremendous talents.
“My conversations with the Mets continue to be organic. I believe baseball is better when the Mets are competitive and successful. That success is better for the fans, players, and the economy of the sport. As Jeff and Fred (Wilpon) continue their search for a new head of baseball operations, the players, fans and entire organization will be motivated to have a leader with the skills and commitment to win. If the Wilpons believe I am that person, we will have that conversation.”

First hired as an intern, Bloom has been with Tampa Bay for 14 years and was promoted to VP of baseball operations in November 2016. The Yale graduate, along with GM Erik Neander, oversee all functions within baseball operations. The Rays are coming off a surprising 90-72 season.

The Mets' GM search has three wildly different types of hopefuls. Bloom is thought to be the young, analytics-minded candidate. Melvin is considered more of an old school choice, although he insisted this week that he believes a winning formula combines traditional scouting with new-age analytics. And Van Wagenen, the co-head of the CAA agency's baseball division, is the outside-the-box candidate.