Eduardo Perez Favored to Be Next Mets Manager After Beltran Steps Down – Odds for 11 Candidates

• Carlos Beltran stepped down as manager of the Mets due to his connection to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal
• Online sportsbooks have established Eduardo Perez as the +300 favorite to replace him
• Former NYM boss Terry Collins has the fifth-best odds

Carlos Beltran didn’t even get to work a single game as manager of the New York Mets. Thursday, the Mets and Beltran mutually agreed to part ways.

Beltran is connected to the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal from his playing days. The Mets decided they didn’t want that to be a distraction. That’s why the move was made.

Suddenly, with less than a month until the opening of spring training, the Mets find themselves minus a manager. Online sportsbooks favor New York hiring Eduardo Perez to fill the role. Perez is the +300 favorite to land the job.

New York Mets Next Manager Odds

Odds taken Jan. 17th.

Whomever the Mets hire, he’ll be their fourth manager since 2017, and their sixth skipper since 2010.

Mets Had To Let Beltran Go

Beltran believed he could handle the distraction that would come with his role in the sign-stealing in Houston. The Mets begged to differ, feeling the distraction it could cause might overwhelm the team.

Truth be told, the Mets were left with no other alternative. Beltran was the only player mentioned in the MLB report on the sign stealing. Reportedly, he was the one who originally hatched the plan when he arrived in Houston for the 2017 season.

Carlos Beltran wanted to stay with Mets, said “he could handle the heat,” but team didn’t want any distractions down the line, per @DPLennon pic.twitter.com/KG6tBHwl2K

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) January 16, 2020

Wednesday, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon met with staff from the MLB Commissioner’s Office. Then they flew to Florida to meet with Beltran.

This cheating scandal is an ongoing story. There are going to be further developments down the road.

By keeping Beltran around, the Mets would’ve assured that they’d remain part of that story.

Beltran Makes Three

Houston’s scandal is creating problems for several MLB teams. The Mets are the third to oust their manager over the sign-stealing practices of the Astros.

Houston fired manager AJ Hinch after he was suspended for a year by MLB for his role in the cheating. Earlier this week, the Boston Red Sox let go skipper Alex Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach in 2017.

Breaking: Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch have been suspended for one year.

An MLB investigation found the team used technology to cheat during its World Series-winning 2017 season, sources familiar with the punishment tell @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/waSkuTaoMO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 13, 2020

It’s anticipated that Cora will also eventually face MLB suspension for his role in this matter.

That leaves three big-league teams searching for a skipper, with less than four weeks to make it happen.

Perez Was Almost Hired

Perez was the runner-up to Beltran in the race for the Mets job. Does this work like Miss America? If the winner can’t fulfill his duties, does the runner-up step in to wear the crown?

Eduardo Perez, the runner-up for the #Mets managerial job, along with Mets bench coach Hensley Muelens, now emerge as two of top candidates

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 16, 2020

An analyst with ESPN, Perez is outgoing and personable, and unlikely to be overwhelmed by all that’s involved with running a ballclub in New York. He’s been a major-league player and coach, as well as a manager in Puerto Rico. But he’s never managed in the big leagues.

Rojas Also Interviewed For Mets Job

The only member of last season’s Mets coaching staff to interview for the manager’s role, Rojas would offer a seamless transition. He knows the players, and they know him. As well, he’s been working alongside Beltran as part of this season’s coaching staff.

Luis Rojas checks all the boxes for me:

• Knows the organization front and back, wont have to acclimate on such short notice.
• Bilingual.
• Has managed most if not all of the homegrown players in the minors.
• Lauded for his work on the big league staff last year.#Mets pic.twitter.com/dmqssIVfx0

— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) January 16, 2020

Rojas is viewed in baseball circles as future MLB manager material but after just one year on a big-league staff, is he prepared to fill that role?

Meulens Is The Man For Mets

Beltran hired Hensley Meulens as his bench coach. As Beltran’s right-hand man, his involvement in the prep for this season is deep.

Meulens won three World Series with the San Francisco Giants as Bruce Bochy’s bench coach. He played in New York with the Yankees, so he’s familiar with life in a fishbowl.

It would be criminally stupid for the #mets, having fired Carlos Beltran, not to give the managing job to their bench coach, Hensley Meulens.

— Henry Schulman BLUE CHECK MARK (@hankschulman) January 16, 2020

He speaks five languages and managed the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Meulens is already on the job. All this would be is a promotion.

Pick: Hensley Meulens (+350).

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