Davidoff's Baseball Insider

Terry Ryan originally occupied the Mets' wish list for their new general manager, and why not? But it's believed the former Twins general manager doesn't have interest in the opening.

So why haven't the Mets gone after anyone beneath GM Bill Smith in the Minnesota brain trust? After all, the Twins have become one of baseball's model franchises, a perennial contender.

The Mets aren't alone, though. Twins officials rarely find themselves poached by other organizations in need of a change. The only recent Minnesota graduate, Wayne Krivsky, can take credit for much of the Cincinnati team that won the National League Central title. But Reds owner Bob Castellini lamely fired Krivsky as GM in 2008. Krivsky currently works for the Mets but is not a candidate for the GM opening.

"Personally, for a few people, yeah, you get a little concerned about it," Smith said this past week. "For this ballclub, we're better off. We have a lot of continuity. People have stayed.

" . . . We have enough fun running this ballclub. We can't be worrying about what other clubs are doing."

Smith and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire have worked in the Twins' organization since 1986. Vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff has been a Twins employee since 1987.

"Mike Radcliff is one of the most respected scouting directors I know," Yankees vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer said. "His work ethic and knowledge of the draft and its players are second to none. As a director myself, I always thought you were trying to catch up to him. He is extremely bright and has led a very successful department within a great organization, and should be high on any list of GM candidates."

Not yet. Maybe someday. Oppenheimer also touted Twins pro scouting coordinator Vern Followell as a candidate.

Trying Honeycutt

It's a good time to be a major-league managerial candidate, with eight teams currently having uncertainties in this important role. And in accordance with that, it's a good time to be a coach.

So even though the Dodgers have asked pitching coach Rick Honeycutt to return for a sixth season, he has yet to accept.

"He considers himself a loyal person and wants to remain with the team," said Honeycutt's agent, Burton Rocks. "But he will weigh all of his options."

The Mets would like to keep pitching coach Dan Warthen, and two other men with Mets ties - Milwaukee's Rick Peterson and Atlanta's Roger McDowell - probably will survive reign changes. But other clubs with managerial openings (Toronto, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Florida and the Cubs) could switch pitching coaches, too.

Good sport

Here's a story explaining why former Mets GM Omar Minaya has so many allies in the game: On Sept. 30, 2007, Tom Glavine and the Mets lost to Florida, 8-1, and were eliminated from playoff contention. That night, Minaya called Josh Byrnes, then Arizona's GM, to congratulate him on the Diamondbacks qualifying for the postseason. Byrnes, according to a friend, was touched that Minaya took the time to call him when he should've been mired in depression.

Now Byrnes is a candidate to replace Minaya; he'll interview with the Wilpons and Mets acting GM John Ricco this coming week. He surely won't offer any disparaging words about Minaya.

Big man in town

Congratulations to Yankees adviser Ray Negron, who received a much-deserved humanitarian award this past week from the Bronx Chamber of Commerce for his involvement with "Hank's Yanks," the 18-and-under summer baseball league team funded by Hank Steinbrenner. Actor Richard Gere, a friend of Negron, introduced him at the dinner honoring him and others.

Negron, meanwhile, has reworked his upcoming animated film, "Henry and Me," to reflect the passing of George Steinbrenner. Hank Steinbrenner voices the character of his late father.