Davidoff's Baseball Insider: He's a helpful Bud

Bud-ding in?

Not everyone in the baseball industry appreciates Bud Selig's efforts to help struggling teams.

"Who was the last general manager he hired?" one team official wondered, on the condition of anonymity.

That would be Sal Bando, the Brewers' GM from 1991 through 1999. The former third baseman brought Milwaukee into the dark ages.

In his role as commissioner, however, Selig offers recommendations that often come upon solicitation from individual team owners. In the instance of the Mets' general manager search, principal owner Fred Wilpon went to Selig and asked for his advice. Selig gave Wilpon a list of suggestions that included Sandy Alderson and former Twins GM Terry Ryan, who isn't interested in the Mets' opening.

Selig's backing holds water in Alderson's candidacy, especially because Selig and Wilpon have such close ties. Wilpon and Alderson also have a good relationship, and a person in the loop said Alderson had a good meeting Thursday with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, whose role would be diminished by taking on someone with Alderson's experience.

When the Mariners looked for a GM two years ago, Selig recommended Jack Zduriencik, and that endorsement seems to have carried weight; Zduriencik won the job over Arizona official Jerry DiPoto. Zduriencik had a great first year and terrible second year in Seattle, although strong drafts offer hope moving forward.

Back in 2007, Selig publicly supported Astros interim manager Cecil Cooper, who - like Bando - played for Selig's Brewers. That didn't work out as well as the Zduriencik recommendation.

In any case, professional sports has a history of commissioners trying to aid teams that have lost their way. If Selig's word pushes Alderson and the Mets toward marriage, I doubt too many Mets fans will complain.

Whither Bobby V.?

At this point, the most likely 2011 landing point for Bobby Valentine appears to be . . . ESPN.

"If it was just a job, I think I could already have it, and probably have it a few places, and I really am flattered by the people who have had me in and have talked to me and even offered me a chance," the former Mets manager told Chris Russo Friday on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Radio. "But I'm looking for that perfect situation, and it hasn't presented itself yet."

It's not clear where Valentine actually could be managing if he so desired. Seattle chose Eric Wedge over him, Florida president David Samson and Valentine never clicked, and Valentine is one of several Toronto interviewees. But the greater point is that his absence from the field is baseball's loss. It will take a strong, self-assured general manager to hire Valentine, but it would be a great hire.

Valentine to the Mets? Don't rule it out altogether yet. But if Alderson gets the GM job, he likely will go with someone with a lower profile and lower salary demands.

Takahashi update

Friends of Mets reliever Hisanori Takahashi say the lefthander is more open to the idea of staying as a reliever, rather than shopping his services as a starter. Takahashi signed a unique deal with the Mets that afforded him free agency just one year into his career, if he so desired. Takahashi has some interest in returning to the Mets, but the Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers also intrigue him. As an affordable reliever who exhibited good stuff, Takahashi should generate plenty of interest.

Second act

Darren Oliver was seven months into retirement in December 2005, having stopped playing on May 21 of that year, when he went to the Wyndham Anatole hotel in Dallas to meet with his agent, Jeff Frye. Former player Frye was there for the winter meetings, and that's how Oliver bumped into Mets officials Sandy Johnson and Brian Lamb, who engaged Oliver about making a comeback.

A minor-league contract with the Mets followed, with an invitation to 2006 spring training. His wife, Melissa, Oliver joked, "was probably thinking, 'He'll probably be gone for a couple of weeks. He probably won't make the team.' "

He made the '06 Mets and pitched well, switching from starter to reliever. Now 40, Oliver has completed year five of his second act, and he is signed with Texas for next year.

"[Melissa] is like, 'You're still playing?!' I say that to myself all of the time. I can't believe I'm still playing. I've definitely been blessed."