Alderson tabs Ricciardi as special assistant

As the new general manager, Sandy Alderson is the architect of the Mets' rebuilding plan, and he added another significant brick to the front office Tuesday with the hiring of J.P. Ricciardi as a special assistant.

Ricciardi, 51, forged a close relationship with Alderson during their 12 years together in Oakland and spent eight years as the Blue Jays' GM before he was fired in 2009, later joining ESPN as a studio analyst. Alderson suggested that he would bring some old allies to New York, and Ricciardi, with a specialty in evaluation and development, is the first of a group who could also include stat guru Paul DePodesta and scouting director Grady Fuson.

"He's going to be invaluable in connection with a lot of things that we do, but particularly in player-related activities, amateur and pro scouting, trades, free agency - across the board," Alderson said. "We're fortunate to have him."

It almost didn't happen. Ricciardi said he had a "standing offer" from the Red Sox to join GM Theo Epstein since the Blue Jays cut him loose in 2009, and the Worcester, Mass., native was "going to head in that direction" until Alderson got the Mets' job Friday. Alderson sealed the deal by visiting Ricciardi and his family over the weekend.

"It was an opportunity to reconnect with someone that I have a great deal of respect for, someone that I know will really do the right things as far as helping the organization go in the right direction," Ricciardi said. "The Red Sox have a great organization, and they're kind of where they want to be. I think we want to get to that point again, and I think that's the most exciting thing to me, is facing the challenge of trying to become where they are right now, and I couldn't think of someone better to do it with than Sandy."

The busy Alderson, who took a red-eye back to New York late Monday after teaching his final class at Cal-Berkeley, also set up interviews for later this week with a few internal managerial candidates. Alderson declined to name them, but the list is believed to include Class A Brooklyn manager Wally Backman, infield / third-base coach Chip Hale, field director Terry Collins and former Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, who was a scout for the Mets this season. Alderson reiterated that he was looking for certain fundamental qualities - "leadership, preparation, emotional commitment and drive" - but had no preconceived notions.

"I think it would be premature for us to say, well, gee, this is a really important characteristic," Alderson said. "It's the total package and that's what we'll be looking for."

Alderson said he had yet to ask permission for any external candidates, but that interviews could get under way at some point next week. Clint Hurdle, the former Rockies manager and now Texas hitting coach, is expected to be on that list, as well as former Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu. Hurdle reportedly will interview for the Pirates job and Wakamatsu has been mentioned as a possibility to join Buck Showalter's staff in Baltimore as bench coach.

As for the Mets' coaching staff, Hale and pitching coach Dan Warthen are likely the only two to be retained at the major-league level, with Alderson telling them to remain "flexible" despite their contracts expiring. Batting coach Howard Johnson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann also will be offered jobs in the organization. Alderson said that pro scouts Russ Bove and Duane Larson have not been retained.