New York Mets: Who will be the next manager?
New York Mets Managerial Candidates
Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi is the most obvious candidate to replace Mickey Callaway as the New York Mets manager. Speculation surrounding the former Yankees manager making the move to Queens has been active long before Callaway was fired.
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Girardi’s managerial track record blows every legitimate candidate for the Mets job out of the water. In his first season as a manager, he won NL Manager of the Year with the Florida Marlins in 2006. Then, he won the 2009 World Series in his second year as the Yankees skipper. Overall, he has a 988-794 record in his managerial career.
He is known for his strict, business-like approach to managing a clubhouse. This could be a great fit for the Mets, who are in need of serious restructuring from within.
After taking the last few years off from managing following his 2017 dismissal from the Bronx, Girardi has made it clear that he is ready to return to the dugout in 2020. With so many opportunities piling up, Girardi has become perhaps the hottest candidate on the market. He has interviewed for the Cubs vacancy and is reportedly scheduled to interview with the rival Phillies as well.
However, he has expressed a strong interest in returning to New York to manage the Mets despite taking other interviews. In fact, this could be a bargaining strategy by Girardi to get more money from the Mets. He did the same thing in 2007 when he took an interview with the Dodgers despite calling the Yankees’ position his “dream job.”
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The Mets are serious about Girardi, and he remains the most clear-cut candidate to become their next manager. However, other clubs are calling, and the Mets cannot sit on their heels if they want him. If they do, they might end up playing him 19 times a year in Philadelphia.