NL East vet up for bench coach

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fredi Gonzalez’s résumé speaks loudly in the Mets’ search for a new bench coach.

The 55-year-old Gonzalez has managed the Marlins and Braves within the NL East and served as the third-base coach for Miami the last three seasons. And according to an industry source, Gonzalez is a candidate to become new manager Carlos Beltran’s top lieutenant.

Team officials spoke to Gonzalez about the job in recent days and are expected to interview him in New York following the GM meetings, which conclude Thursday.

Gonzalez joins Jerry Narron as a known candidate for the bench coach opening. Narron, who previously managed the Rangers and Reds, spent the last three seasons as Diamondbacks bench coach.

On another front, a source confirmed that hitting coach Chili Davis is close to returning to the Mets, but a deal hasn’t been finalized. The Post previously reported that Davis was seeking a multi-year deal to return. In recent days Davis had emerged as a finalist for the Phillies’ hitting coach job.

Franklyn Ki lome , the pitcher acquired in the trade that sent Asdrubal Cabrera to Philadelphia in 2018, is on track to begin spring training with the Mets, according to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. Kilome, a righthander, underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after arriving to the Mets last year.

Despite the Nationals’ success with Max Scherzer throwing to personal catcher Kurt Suzuki, the Mets want Noah Syndergaard ready for Wilson Ramos next season. Syndergaard lobbied to have Tomas Nido and Rene Rivera catch him last season instead of Ramos.

“I don’t think we’re ever going to find ourselves in a situation where we’re going to assign personal catchers to any of our pitchers,” Van Wagenen said. “Our goal is to continue to build a pitcher/catcher relationship so that the two parties are on the same page and are working well together.”