Sources: Sandy likely to return
DENVER — The Mets’ biggest free-agent question within the coming months might not involve a player with an expiring contract.
As the Mets look to 2018 and beyond, the first order of business will be establishing leadership atop the baseball operations department, and signs point to general manager Sandy Alderson returning to lead the front office, according to sources.
Alderson, who turns 70 in November, is completing the three-year contract he signed after the 2014 season. And to his closest associates, Alderson has shown no signs of declining energy in the midst of an unexpected losing season that has removed the Mets from National League playoff contention.
Team owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz are unlikely to make Alderson the scapegoat for this season, according to sources, leaving it to the general manager to decide his own immediate future. And multiple individuals who work closely with the GM indicated they would be surprised if Alderson decided to retire.
“But one thing about Sandy, he is pretty protective,” a team official said. “Even if you press him on stuff, he won’t reveal a lot.”
During the Mets’ last homestand, Alderson told The Post he hasn’t held discussions with ownership about the matter.
“That’s a subject that hasn’t really come up since the beginning of the season,” Alderson said. “I’m not pushing it and I’m not expecting them to push it.”
Alderson declined to provide further insight.
“It will take care of itself in the course of the next few months,” he said. “I’m not really thinking about it.”
Alderson, who underwent surgery for cancer following the 2015 World Series and later received chemotherapy treatments, has appeared in good health, showing no signs of decline physically, according to associates.
“If you had seen him going into the trade deadline he was as energetic as ever,” a team official said. “The conversations we’ve had are a lot about next year and Sandy certainly seems like he is all in. He remains as involved in the organization as ever. I would be surprised if he walked away.”
Among the possibilities is Alderson receiving a “president of baseball operations” title and assistant general manager John Ricco being elevated to GM. But any restructuring would be purely cosmetic, as Ricco already is heavily involved in the daily operations of the team. Alderson, in fact, already serves as the president of baseball operations, but might be inclined to formally take the title as a show of respect to his top lieutenant, Ricco, who would receive a boost in status with the GM title.
Alderson’s fate is expected to be decided by the time the regular season concludes or in the days shortly thereafter, as the Mets will look to move quickly with an offseason plan. If Alderson returns, as expected, his first decision likely will be on the manager for next season, because Terry Collins’ contract is set to expire. The 68-year-old Collins has indicated he may retire after the season.