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Sunday, September 19, 2021

Mets targeting A’s Billy Beane as candidate to run baseball operations

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Friday that Beane, the vice president of baseball operations for the Oakland Athletics, could be a logical candidate to run the same department with the Mets. Jon Heyman of MLB Network followed that by saying Beane is indeed on the Mets’ radar.

Additionally from Rosenthal’s report, he said that veteran manager Bob Melvin could also be a target for the Mets in a combo move, addressing positions in both the front office and dugout.

The Mets already agreed to bring back current president Sandy Alderson for the 2022 season, but he was never meant to be a long-term solution to run the Mets’ baseball operations. Cohen brought him in as a person familiar with the organization to help the new owner transition during his first season in 2021.

But the Mets have been tied to big-name executives since Cohen took over the team. Former Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs GM Theo Epstein has already been linked as a possible name to lead the Mets’ front-office makeover. But Epstein, who currently works for MLB as an on-field consultant, might be tougher to lure back into a front-office role without a hefty price tag and possibly an ownership share in the team.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 19, 2021 at 05:05 PM | 28 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: blily beane, mets

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1. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 19, 2021 at 08:42 PM (#6040455)

Aren’t Beane & Melvin under contract with the Athletics? Seems like a whiff of tampering here, although the more interesting question might be what the Mets would be willing to send to the A’s to secure the services of Beane & Melvin.

2. Walt Davis Posted: September 19, 2021 at 09:33 PM (#6040466)

At least with the Mets, it won't matter that Billy's #### doesn't work in the playoffs.

3. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: September 19, 2021 at 09:57 PM (#6040467)

Seems like a whiff of tampering here

Huh tampering....checks background of new Met's owner....yep, that seems about right.

4. Boxkutter Posted: September 19, 2021 at 10:17 PM (#6040470)

Doesn't Beane have a small minority ownership of the A's? I am guessing he would have to sell that or something?

5. Adam Starblind Posted: September 20, 2021 at 02:11 AM (#6040475)

More like a whiff of ignorance. The tampering rule applies to players, coaches, and managers.

6. McCoy Posted: September 20, 2021 at 06:22 AM (#6040476)

Beane is not leaving and he especially isn't leaving for the Mets job

7. Adam Starblind Posted: September 20, 2021 at 08:57 AM (#6040482)

[6] I'm surprised the reporter didn't call you for comment.

8. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: September 20, 2021 at 09:55 AM (#6040488)

This check here represents the offer that the New York Mets would be making to Billy.

9. greenback does not like sand

Posted: September 20, 2021 at 10:17 AM (#6040491)

Maybe his daughter runs a chop shop in Flushing now.

10. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: September 20, 2021 at 10:33 AM (#6040494)

She's just a little bit stuck in the middle la la la.

11. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 20, 2021 at 12:48 PM (#6040515)

More like a whiff of ignorance. The tampering rule applies to players, coaches, and managers.

That would seem to include Melvin, no? In any event, ordinary contract law would cover Beane, so the question that really can’t be avoided is what will the Mets offer the A’s for their key long-time senior baseball personnel? You aren’t expecting a freebie are you?

12. GregD Posted: September 20, 2021 at 02:23 PM (#6040540)

Doesn't Beane have a small minority ownership of the A's? I am guessing he would have to sell that or something?

1 percent has been the 2020 reporting...he used to own 4 percent I think.

In October 2020 there were reports that Beane's "special purpose acquisition company" might be acquired by Fenway Sports Group, and Beane would sell his As interest to avoid conflict then shift his attention to European soccer. That fell through. You could read that as suggesting he's thinking of leaving the As....or thinking of leaving baseball altogether, I guess. link

13. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: September 20, 2021 at 02:28 PM (#6040541)

The tampering rule applies to players, coaches, and managers.

I don't know about the rule, but I do recall the Cubs give the Red Sox compensation for signing Theo (Theo had resigned before Cubs hired him) and Padres for Jed Hoyer (he had not resigned and made a lateral move).

14. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 20, 2021 at 02:33 PM (#6040542)

The reports I've seen say the Mets would have to give the A's some compensation for Melvin, at least. Not sure about Beane.

15. bfan Posted: September 20, 2021 at 03:45 PM (#6040552)

Is everyone comfortable that Beane, at nearly 60, has the fire in his belly and energy to get the job done?

16. McCoy Posted: September 20, 2021 at 04:38 PM (#6040569)

Yes

17. Adam Starblind Posted: September 20, 2021 at 04:42 PM (#6040570)

That would seem to include Melvin, no? In any event, ordinary contract law would cover Beane, so the question that really can’t be avoided is what will the Mets offer the A’s for their key long-time senior baseball personnel? You aren’t expecting a freebie are you?

Yes, it would apply to Melvin. I was focusing on Beane because that's the one where there appeared to be some confirmation from a Mets source.

And you're definitely right that it won't be free. Am I remembering correctly that the Mariners asked for Jose Reyes in exchange for Lou Pinella? If not Reyes, it was something outlandish.

18. Walt Davis Posted: September 20, 2021 at 06:15 PM (#6040592)

Don't get excited. If memory serves, this guy was the compensation for Theo. (the trade included a PTBNL also going to the Sox and X's brother coming to the Cubs.)

19. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 20, 2021 at 06:49 PM (#6040597)

The Mariners got Randy Winn from the Rays for Manager Lou Piniella. He’d been the Rays best player by WAR (4.8) the previous season.

20. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: September 20, 2021 at 08:06 PM (#6040605)

I gotta say, I'll buy this horse when I see its teeth. Beane is still a good executive and everything. But he's been rumored to go to a number of rich teams over his career, and it's never materialized. He's a lifelong Californian who has found a reason to stay in California every time he's been given the opportunity to leave. If I had Beane's money, you'd be hard pressed to get me to leave California, which really is a paradise if you're a rich guy.

21. greenback does not like sand

Posted: September 21, 2021 at 10:14 AM (#6040674)

I'm guessing Billy Beane's idea of paradise is winning the World Series as the team boss (as what we would call the general manager before PBO title inflation), and the A's have their own rebuild coming with all the problems Doug Jones mentioned in the rebuild thread. The Mets have a long and established history of self-immolation, so maybe he has no interest, but I can't see him being particularly concerned with geography.

22. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 21, 2021 at 10:18 AM (#6040675)

I gotta say, I'll buy this horse when I see its teeth. Beane is still a good executive and everything. But he's been rumored to go to a number of rich teams over his career, and it's never materialized. He's a lifelong Californian who has found a reason to stay in California every time he's been given the opportunity to leave. If I had Beane's money, you'd be hard pressed to get me to leave California, which really is a paradise if you're a rich guy.

I don't know if the reasoning is right but Beane seems to have a pretty good set up with the A's. He's had plenty of chances to leave (probably more than we are aware of) and other than the Sox in 2002 has never really gotten that close it seems. I think it's as simple as he likes where he is and is content to stick around.

23. Adam Starblind Posted: September 21, 2021 at 10:37 AM (#6040677)

(as what we would call the general manager before PBO title inflation)

Yeah, what is this? I don't recall seeing a discussion on this previously. What does a GM do now vs. a PBO??

24. Lassus Posted: September 21, 2021 at 11:15 AM (#6040681)

He's had plenty of chances to leave (probably more than we are aware of) and other than the Sox in 2002 has never really gotten that close it seems. I think it's as simple as he likes where he is and is content to stick around.

I dunno, maybe his divorce issues with Angelina Jolie will finally push him to the other coast.

25. DL from MN Posted: September 21, 2021 at 11:24 AM (#6040684)

Near as I can tell in those organizations the General Manager focuses mainly on the major league team. POBO is in charge of the entire baseball operation - minor leagues, analytics, scouting, drafting, development, etc.

26. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: September 21, 2021 at 12:46 PM (#6040701)

But he's been rumored to go to a number of rich teams over his career, and it's never materialized. He's a lifelong Californian who has found a reason to stay in California every time he's been given the opportunity to leave. If I had Beane's money, you'd be hard pressed to get me to leave California, which really is a paradise if you're a rich guy.

The Mets' play here is to offer so much water he can't say no.

27. Ron J Posted: September 21, 2021 at 01:20 PM (#6040710)

#26 And New York's a pretty OK place if you have money too.

But I'm not sure money will motivate Beane. If he genuinely prefers California and is financially set (he very likely is) then I'm not sure money will matter.

A challenge? Possibly. Not sure how he's wired. Challenge plus all the money? Again possibly.

28. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: September 21, 2021 at 09:17 PM (#6040809)

The Mets' play here is to offer so much water he can't say no.

So much the subways flood!

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Mets targeting A’s Billy Beane as candidate to run baseball operations

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