This could be ‘so Long’ to Kevin
THE Mets have their man for manager, but that means they may lose their hitting coach. After Kevin Long lost out on the manager’s job to Mickey Callaway, other teams have been given permission to talk to him, Sandy Alderson said Monday. “Kevin interviewed very well and he was disappointed I think with our decision,” the Mets GM said. “Right now I think it’s still a possibility he will be back on the staff, but we’ll have to wait to see.”
Long said his future is up in the air with the Mets and would not commit to 2018. “We’ll see,” Long said via text message. Long’s contract, as well as those of all other coaches, including assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, expire on Oct. 31. The Mets will also need to hire a pitching coach to replace Dan Warthen. Bench coach Dick Scott is also definitely not coming back. Bullpen coach Ricky Bones and first base coach Tom Goodwin were uncertain of their futures as well. Only third base coach Glenn Sherlock has a contract for next season. “What we’ve told Mickey is there are some coaches we’d like to have back, other coaches that we are wideopen about considering,” Alderson said of the future of the staff. “It’s a little bit of a jigsaw puzzle. (It) only has seven pieces and we have to figure it out.”
Alderson said it would be a “collaboration” with Callaway to hire the staff, including pitching coach.
“One of the things we’re going to do the next few days is put together a list of potential pitching coaches. We already had a partial list and will make sure it’s inclusive as possible. I think Mickey and the front office will work collaboratively to find someone he’s comfortable with,” Alderson said. “I think it’s important to recognize that, yes, Mickey is a former pitching coach and it’s important for us because that’s our strength. But at the same time, Mickey will be focused entirely on the 25-man roster and so a pitching coach will be very important.
“Again, in looking for a pitching coach, we’re looking for someone who’s professionally expert and at the same time fits in with the sort of collaborative approach that we’re expecting to build here.”
Warthen was defended quite strongly by Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia. He has been offered another position in the organization, but Alderson said he has not heard back from him about it.
ALDERSON IS STILL HERE
The GM’s contract also expires this year, but all Alderson would say about his future is, “I’m here.”
Alderson would not comment on a contract extension or possible change in title, and would only say there would likely be no change in the structure of the front office.
“I don’t think so,” Alderson said. “Don’t quote me because I don’t know, but I’d say probably not.”