Mets Appear To Have Their Final 4 In Manager Search

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The Mets' managerial search appears to be down to four.

WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reported Tuesday morning that still in the running are Nationals first-base coach Tim Bogar, ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez, Yankees special adviser Carlos Beltran and Twins bench coach Derek Shelton. 

Some of the mystery has gone out of Mets search. No more bombshells. Appears the final 4 are: Tim Bogar, Eduardo Perez, Derek Shelton and Carlos Beltran.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 29, 2019

SNY's Andy Martino reported last week that the Mets were considering a mystery "bombshell" candidate, but Heyman said there are "no more bombshells."

Martino reported Monday that the Mets were beginning a third round of interviews this week as they look to replace Mickey Callaway, who was fired after the season. 

Bogar, 52, is a three-time Manager of the Year in the minor leagues and has worked on the big-league staffs of the Rays, Red Sox, Rangers, Mariners and Nationals. 

He played nine years in the majors from 1993-2001 as an infielder with the Mets, Astros and Dodgers.

Perez, 50, enjoyed a 13-year major league career with the Angels, Reds, Cardinals, Devil Rays, Indians and Mariners. 

Perez has managed the Puerto Rican and Colombian national teams. He was a hitting coach for the Marlins from 2011-2012 and bench coach for the Astros in 2013. 

USA Today reported last week that Perez is seen as as the "clear front runner." SNY reported that both Perez and Bogar "have hit it off" with Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. 

Beltran, 42, played 20 seasons in the majors from 1998-2017 for the Royals, Mets, Yankees, Astros, Cardinals, Giants and Rangers. The former outfielder was a nine-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, American League Rookie of the Year and World Series champion with Houston in 2017. 

Carlos Beltran in 2017Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Images

The Yankees interviewed Beltran after the 2017 season for the managerial opening that went to Aaron Boone. The Yanks then hired Beltran as a special adviser to general manager Brian Cashman in December 2018.

With his sights set on the Mets opening, Beltran said he turned down opportunities to interview with the Cubs and Padres this year.

Shelton, 49, has spent the past two seasons as the Twins' bench coach -- this year Minnesota won the American League Central before being swept in their AL Division Series against the Yankees. 

Shelton's background also includes serving as the hitting coach for the Indians and Rays and quality control coach for the Blue Jays. A former Yankees farmhand, he was a manager in the Yankees' minor league system for three seasons from 2000-02. 

Other known candidates to have interviewed with the Mets are Diamondbacks Vice President of Player Development Mike Bell, Padres first-base coach Skip Schumaker, Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy and former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who was hired last week as the Philadelphia Phillies' skipper.