Mets to interview Hahn, Baird, Byrnes for GM spot
New York Mets owner and CEO Fred Wilpon, right, and COO Jeff Wilpon speak to the media during a news conference, Monday, at Citi Field. (Oct. 4, 2010) Credit: AP
PHILADELPHIA - The Mets' search for a general manager reached a new stage Thursday when the team announced it will interview three candidates next week: Rick Hahn, Allard Baird and Josh Byrnes. Still on hold is Sandy Alderson, who is working in the Dominican Republic for Major League Baseball but could be available to speak with the Mets soon.
With the team's ownership group hoping to have a GM in place before the start of the World Series, next week's round of interviews, with Hahn the front-runner, should help expedite that process. The commissioner's office is not expected to push the Mets on interviewing a minority candidate, given their strong hiring record in that area.
The Mets received permission to speak with Hahn and Baird, who are assistant GMs with the White Sox and Red Sox, respectively. Byrnes was fired by the Diamondbacks this season but has five years remaining on that contract.
Of these three, Hahn is the only one without previous GM experience, but Baseball America named him this year's top pick for the next available opening. It doesn't hurt that Hahn is a Michigan grad - principal owner Fred Wilpon is a very active alum - as well as a Harvard Law product. He worked for the Steinberg, Moorad and Dunn agency before the White Sox hired him in 2000 to work under GM Kenny Williams.
Hahn's strengths would seem to be in negotiating contracts and statistical evaluation, but he reportedly has been more involved in scouting in recent years. Hahn also has a connection with managerial candidate - and Wilpon favorite - Wally Backman, who was a manager in the White Sox minor-league system during his tenure.
Hahn interviewed for the Cardinals' GM job but withdrew from consideration before it went to John Mozeliak. Hahn also declined to be interviewed for the Pirates' vacancy and the White Sox did not allow him to speak with the Mariners for their position.
Hahn was among the first names to surface in the Mets' GM hunt; Baird was a bit of a surprise when the team mentioned him yesterday. He is a valued member of Theo Epstein's staff in Boston, handling professional scouting, but had an unremarkable run as Royals GM.
Baird had three 100-loss seasons in Kansas City before he was fired in 2006 and probably is best known for trading Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye. But with small-market Kansas City, he didn't have much choice when those players approached free agency.
Byrnes, like Hahn, was an early favorite on the Mets' short list, but it's unclear how he stacks up heading into the interview process. He worked as an assistant GM for the Rockies under Dan O'Dowd and for the Red Sox under Epstein before taking the top job in Arizona. Once considered one of baseball's rising young stars, Byrnes does have GM experience, but the Mets' job will be particularly challenging.
