Alderson, Byrnes finalists for Mets' GM job

PHILADELPHIA - The Mets named Sandy Alderson and Josh Byrnes on Friday as the two finalists for their vacant general manager's position. After the next round of interviews, the team could have a new GM by the end of next week, with all signs pointing to Alderson as the heavy favorite.

As for when the hiring can be announced, that's more complicated. Major League Baseball has an informal ban on teams making significant announcements during the World Series, which begins Wednesday and could stretch until Nov. 4 if it goes seven games. In some cases, teams are given permission to do it during an off day, but the Mets could decide to simply wait.

Byrnes, who was fired as the Diamondbacks' GM earlier this season, is scheduled to interview Monday; Alderson, the former A's GM and Padres CEO, will follow on Tuesday. In this round, the two candidates will meet with principal owner Fred Wilpon and president Saul Katz, in addition to chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, who also handled the first round.

Alderson has a strong relationship with commissioner Bud Selig - a confidant of Fred Wilpon - and those ties helped pave the way for him to become the favorite for the Mets' position. As soon as Alderson received the OK from Selig to leave his reform work in the Dominican Republic, the wheels were in motion for him to return to the day-to-day operations of a major-league club.

Of the six candidates interviewed in the first round, three had experience as a GM, and the Mets selected two of them. Allard Baird, who spent six years as the Royals' GM, did not make it to the second round.

Given the high-profile nature of the Mets' GM position, and the magnitude of the task in fixing the organization, it would have been difficult to hand over the reins to a rookie, regardless of his resume. The Mets interviewed some of the most highly regarded assistants in the game - the White Sox's Rick Hahn, the Dodgers' Logan White and the Blue Jays' Dana Brown - but the club's situation requires much more than scouting expertise and draft proficiency.

That's what has made Alderson, 62, a leading candidate from the beginning. Alderson not only has a track record of building the A's into a perennial contender, with three straight World Series appearances from 1988-90, but has the reputation of a no-nonsense, take-charge executive, which is the kind of leadership the Mets are looking for during this transition period.

Byrnes, 40, began his career as a scouting director for the Indians at the age of 27, then spent time as an assistant GM with the Rockies and Red Sox before the Diamondbacks hired him as GM in 2005.

Arizona made one playoff appearance in four full seasons of Byrnes' tenure. After sweeping the Cubs in the 2007 Division Series, the Diamondbacks were swept by the Rockies in the National League Championship Series.

Byrnes, who had five years remaining on his contract, was fired July 2 with the Diamondbacks in last place, 12½ games behind the Padres.