Citi challenge
The Mets have more competition in their managerial search.
John Farrell’s ouster as Red Sox manager Wednesday has left a high-profile opening that may lead Boston to pursue Brad Ausmus or Alex Cora, both of whom have attracted the attention of Mets officials.
The Mets recently reached out to Ausmus regarding their opening, and Cora has been among a group of potential candidates for the vacancy created by Terry Collins’ recent resignation. Team officials have begun interviews, according to a source, but are not publicly acknowledging the names of the candidates.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told The Post this week he expects to interview a “half-dozen or so” individuals for the vacancy. Robin Ventura, Joe McEwing, Kevin Long, Bob Geren, Chip Hale and Sandy Alomar Jr., are among the other known potential candidates.
Farrell likely will not be considered for the Mets’ opening, according to a source. But the Mets have discussed Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, who is unsigned beyond this season. Though the Mets expect him to return to the Yankees, team officials are keeping surveillance on the situation in the event Girardi’s decade-long tenure in The Bronx concludes. Alderson, according to a source, would be open to the idea of Girardi, who fits the GM’s criterion of strong leadership skills.
Ausmus, a native of Cheshire, Conn., was fired as Tigers manager last month after four seasons in the position. The Ti- gers finished 64-98 in 2017 and missed the playoffs for a third straight season.
Ausmus could be the favorite in Boston because of his ties to the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, who hired him with the Tigers.
Cora’s name also has floated in Boston as a potential replacement for Farrell. Cora, the Astros’ bench coach, could also be a candidate for the openings in Detroit and Philadelphia.
Long, currently the Mets hitting coach, is highly regarded within the organization for his communication skills and the relationships he has built in the clubhouse. Though Long never has managed above the Single-A level, Mets officials see him as capable of making the leap.
Geren spent four seasons as the Mets’ bench coach before spending the past two seasons in the same capacity with the Dodgers. Team officials were high on Geren during his Mets tenure — he has a firm grasp of analytics — and his tenure in a winning culture with the Dodgers only has enhanced his credentials.