METS GO UP IN FLAMES
Steve Cohen is weighing bringing Sandy Alderson back to the Mets in at least an advisory role should he gain control as principal owner, two sources told The Post.
SNY first reported the possibility of Alderson’s return.
Alderson was the Mets’ general manager from 2010-18, the last six of which Cohen was a limited partner of the team. Alderson would regularly brief the Mets board of directors of which Cohen was a member. One source said Cohen has continued a relationship with Alderson and consulted with him even after Alderson left to become a senior adviser to the A’s.
Alderson did not respond toatext.
Cohen has an agreement with Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz for 95 percent of the Mets. He now must get 23 owners to approve him in a vote that could come as early as next month. If he gains control, Cohen is not expected to name Alderson as the general manager again.
Instead, the likeliest scenario would have Alderson coming on as anything from an adviser to team president. One source said that if that occurred he expected Alderson to try to make a push to have Paul DePodesta return in an important role as well. DePodesta, once the Dodgers general manager, was one of Alderson’s key lieutenants with the Mets before leaving to become the chief strategy officer for the Cleveland Browns. Cohen, according to a source, also has a pre-existing relationship with DePodesta.
Alderson, who used to work in the Commissioner’s Office, is well-regarded by central baseball. Cohen may not be a slam dunk to be approved and having someone with a strong reputation around the game and positive ties to the main MLB office could help Cohen’s image and dim concerns he will run a rogue operation with no concerns for matters such as blowing out payroll.
What an Alderson return would mean for the man who succeeded him as general manager, Brodie Van Wagenen, is not publicly known. Alderson’s son, Bryn, continued on as the Mets’ pro scouting director even after the departure of his father. But those contacted who know Alderson have not described him as having a strong relationship with Van Wagenen.
Alderson succeeded Omar Minaya as GM of the Mets and Cohen is said to also have a good relationship with Minaya, who is currently a special assistant to Van Wagenen.
As The Post reported Sunday, Cohen’s plan when he was in line to buy the Dodgers in 2011 was to name then-powerful agent Arn Tellem as team president and hire a GM beneath Tellem. But the deal with the Dodgers did not go through. Tellem is now vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons and a source said it was possible that Cohen could also try to lure him to the Mets. Tellem did not answer a texted question on that subject.