FINAL EXAM
Rays executive, 35, the last of Amazin’s interviews for GM gig
Barring an 11th hour surprise entry into the sweepstakes, the Mets’ interviews for a head of baseball operations are finished.
Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom met with team owner Fred Wilpon and COO Jeff Wilpon on Wednesday, according to sources, the last of three finalists to receive a second interview.
Bloom joined agent Brodie Van Wagenen and Brewers senior adviser Doug Melvin among the finalists. The team is expected to decide by next week on a hire, putting the new general manager (or head of baseball operations) in place by the start of the GM meetings on Nov. 6 in Carlsbad, Calif.
The 35-year-old Bloom is the youngest of the candidates under consideration. He brings a deep analytics background to the mix and is highly regarded for his work as the No. 2 front-office person with the Rays, where he has helped keep a smaller-payroll team competitive. The Yale graduate has spent 14 years working for the Rays, and the biggest question might be whether he is ready for the dynamics of a New York franchise in his first No. 1 role leading a front office.
But Bloom might only be a fit if the Mets are willing to embrace analytics on a larger scale. As it stands, the Mets have one of the smallest analytics staffs in the major leagues. Fred Wilpon, according to sources, believes the Mets were too analytically driven under previous general manager Sandy Alderson.
The 66-year-old Melvin might pass for somebody who can bring a blend of analytics and scouting/ player development to the equation. Melvin is well-respected in the Brewers front office, where he served as GM from 2002-15.
“Doug is a teambuilder,” said a person who has worked with Melvin. “He can connect with a 20-yearold as well as a 60year-old. He just has that gift. He’s as wellversed as anybody in all aspects of the game. He gives you an objective view.”
Van Wagenen, 44, is co-head of CAA’s baseball division, whose clients include Jacob deGrom, Yoenis Cespedes, Noah Syndergaard, Todd Frazier, Brandon Nimmo and Tim Tebow.
Though Van Wagenen lacks previous experience in baseball operations, his knowledge of the organization through having placed so many clients with the Mets is viewed as an asset.
But Van Wagenen’s move to the front office would also present a conflict of interest, particularly in his dealings with deGrom, whose long-term status will be decided in the next two years. As deGrom’s agent and confidant, Van Wagenen has been privy to information that could be used against the righthander in his negotiations with the club.