The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Will Beltran get coaching staff he wants?
As Carlos Beltran settles into his new life as Mets manager, it’s unclear how much input he will have as the team fills out the rest of his coaching staff. But Beltran did disclose his preference for an experienced group to supplement his novice managerial background at his introductory press conference earlier this month.
“I do need experience, there’s no doubt about that,” Beltran said on Nov. 4 in the Foxwoods Club at Citi Field. “We are reaching out. We’re going to reach out to coaches that have experience.”
Beltran is being fair. For a firstyear skipper who has never before been a manager or a coach at any level of the game, the request for a staff with years of training in the dugout and bullpen is hardly a big ask. And he doesn’t necessarily want to bring in recognizable names in the league. The 42yearold’s description of what a seasoned staff looks like includes “guys that are passionate, guys that are willing to work hard and have the same passion I have,” he said.
Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen fielded tons of questions with regard to the empty chairs on the staff at the GM Meetings in Scottsdale last week. Even though Van Wagenen was quintessentially coy when he said the Mets will “wait to roll out our coaching staff until we’ve completed it,” the GM did indicate that Beltran’s classic definition of experience may not match his own.
“Experience comes in a variety of different forms,”
Van Wagenen said on Beltran’s preference for a veteran bench coach. “We’re going to find the right guy for him and it’s going to have to be the right guy that he feels comfortable with.”
Chili Davis enjoyed a sitdown with Van Wagenen, Allaird Baird and other Mets officials in Scottsdale before reports confirmed he will return as the Mets hitting coach in 2020. Davis, who debuted as an outfielder for the Giants 38 years ago and has been on a Major League coaching staff for the better part of this decade, brings with him those key ingredients Beltran talked about when he described an ideal staff.
As for the other names being reported to fill out the Amazin’s coaching staff, at least one is already familiar with both the Mets and Beltran.
Joey Cora, the older brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, emerged as a candidate for the Mets bench coach job according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The 54yearold served as the Pirates thirdbase coach this past season and has been coaching in the organization since 2017.
After an 11year big league career as a second baseman and shortstop that ended in 1998, Cora was a manger in the Mets minorleague system. He later earned a championship title with the 2005 White Sox — serving as their thirdbase coach. Cora went on to coach for the Marlins in 2012 before joining the Pirates system.
Beltran and Alex Cora are close friends that grew up in Puerto Rico and played for the Mets from 200910 before winning a World Series together for the Astros in 2017. They’re also both entrenched in the
Astros’ signstealing scandal currently swamping the news cycle, bringing Beltran and the Cora family that much closer.
Former Diamondbacks bench coach Jerry Narron and Marlins thirdbase coach Fredi Gonzalez are also reported candidates for the Mets’ vacant bench coach job.
“I want to bring something to the table every single day, so I want my coaches to feel the same way,” Beltran said. “I want to empower my coaches in a way where, I have never seen in the teams that I’ve been with. I want to establish baseball conversations. When you have a good group of people that you’re capable of communicating well (with), it makes the job easier on everyone. So I understand that experience is going to be important, but most importantly I want good people,” he said.