Uncertainty reigns supreme in Mets’ hunt for new GM

The Mets need a head of baseball operations, but what exactly do they want?

Nearly two weeks into the search for Sandy Alderson’s replacement, club officials still seem uncertain, according to industry sources, about what they want in a perspective candidate.

There is the clash between old-school and new-school ideas, but also disagreement on the organizational structure. That is, should the Mets hire a president of baseball operations, with a general manager beneath that person or just one head of baseball operations who can assume whatever title, without another hire?

At this point, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Mets are leaning toward hiring just one person who would oversee the entire baseball operations department, but team officials have fluctuated on the matter over the past two weeks.

First-round interviews will continue into next week, after which team owner Fred Wilpon is expected to get involved. This week’s interviews of six to eight candidates, according to a source, were conducted by COO Jeff Wilpon and assistant general manager John Ricco.

Known candidates at this point are former Brewers and Rangers GM Doug Melvin, Cardinals director of player development Gary LaRocque, MLB executive Kim Ng, Nationals special assistant De Jon Watson and Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. The Mets have shown interest in Indians GM Mike Chernoff, but it’s unclear if he will interview for the position.

The Mets had hoped former Red Sox GM Ben Cherington and Twins GM Thad Levine would interview, but both declined. Among the challenges facing the Mets, according to sources, is the perception the new hire will be answering to Jeff Wilpon on baseball matters.

Also, there is skepticism in the industry that the new hire will get to select a staff, as Ricco, Omar Minaya and special assistant J.P. Ricciardi are all favored by ownership.

The MLB Players Association announced each team’s finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award on Friday, and Jose Reyes was selected by his peers as the Mets’ representative.

The award honors a player “whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement” and is part of the annual Players Choice Awards, voted on by members of the MLBPA.

Reyes’ history with domestic violence — including a 51-game suspension in 2016 — and subpar play, he hit .189 this season with a .580 OPS, would seem to make him an odd choice to represent the Mets.