Andy Green, Mets GM candidate? | Mets Mailbag
On this edition of Mets Mailbag, SNY's Michelle Margaux is joined by SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes to take on fan questions surrounding the future of Mets' interim manager Andy Green, and his next role in the organization, as well as plans at first base for 2027.
Video Transcript
So to me, he makes the most sense.
If not him, I would assume it's someone who's m- like him in the sense that they're more of a baseball guy, quote unquote.
Welcome to Mets Mailbag, the show where we answer your questions.
I'm your host, Michelle Mergo, and today I'm joined by SNY MLB insider, Chelsea James.
Hello, Chelsea.
Hello.
How's it going?
I'm going well.
Just a reminder before we get started, every week you can go to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to look for a post from SNY's account asking you to submit your questions to the show.
So if you're watching on YouTube, you can also drop your questions in the comment section below.
So Chelsea, you put out a story this morning actually on sny.tv with some new information on Andy Green, and just his future with the Mets organization, which is perfect because, some of what you wrote leads us right into our first question, which comes from Russ Thomas on Facebook, who said, "Who do you think will take the reins of manager at the end of the year?
I love the current manager and wish he could stay longer.
Your thoughts?"
Yeah, I, I believe Andy Green when he says he wants to not be the manager next year, and talking to him yesterday did not change that.
N- no one will say for sure, but everyone says as of right now, like, it's not gonna be him, and I, I think that's true.
So who is it?
I mean, I think the obvious choice given that they have asked him before is Carlos Beltrn.
I think that we're gonna see a managerial search.
I wouldn't be surprised if Carlos Beltrn comes out of that managerial search, but I also wouldn't be surprised if someone else does.
But I think as of right now, he makes the most sense given his history with this team, and given the fact that there's kind of a sense that they need someone who's had experience in that clubhouse.
And you know, I just think for a lot of reasons he'll be appealing to them.
Yeah, I think too, like what Steve Cohen said to the media is probably 100% accurate.
Like, he's like, "I'm gonna take Andy Green's word at face value, and if he decides he wants to throw his, you know, hat in the ring, then like, then he'll be considered."
I think that's probably the most accurate.
You know, I don't think they have an answer right now.
David Levinson on Facebook said, "Is there an executive out there who would make for a good GM under David Stearns?"
Great question.
Yeah, and good timing.
I mean, the thing that is interesting about Andy Green right now is that a lot of people in the organization and around it are wondering if he is the obvious choice as a general manager.
I think one reason the Mets have not brought in a general manager is that it's a hard thing to do when you have a president of baseball operations like David Stearns because you don't want to bring in someone who's an outside voice that would undermine him, but obviously he's been pretty happy with his team.
Happy Sorry, we got a cat here.
Happy enough that, he hasn't filled that role himself.
So you don't wanna create tension either, like, real or in the public eye by bringing someone in.
That being said, I, I know there are people in the Mets organization right now who looked at this year and, and years past and said, "It might be nice to have some people who've played in the big leagues or coached in the big leagues in that front office role just to complement the decision-making process."
Who makes the most sense?
I mean, Andy Green is right there.
If he's not gonna manage, he now has a ton of experience with big leaguers.
You know, a general manager generally kind of handles, you know, the major league roster.
The d- you know, the division of job stuff is, is always dependent on the organization, but he is kind of the perfect in between as someone who worked with Stearns, has made organizational decisions, but now also understands the clubhouse.
He put together the coaching staff in some part.
He just is everywhere, and I think that's sort of what a general manager's job is.
So to me, he makes the most sense.
If not him, I would assume it's someone who's m- like him in the sense that they're more of a baseball guy, quote unquote, than a data guy.
But, but I do think there are people in the organization right now who say, "Hey, Andy Green makes a lot of sense," and it's easy.
Yeah.
That's actually fascin- I have not even thought about that because my, you know, my experience with him personally is that I covered him for two years in San Diego.
So in my mind, I view him as someone who's in the dugout.
And then obviously that's, you know, in his most recent role that's just not who he is.
But I wonder, that it's a very, very, very, very good, possibility that maybe that he is the person for that role.
Mets Opinion on Facebook, "Can the Mets protect their young talent, Scott, Benge, MacLean, Ewing, Thornton, so they can still play in Triple-A if and when there's an extended lockout?"
this is complicated on a lot of levels because no, basically.
Um- But I also think that the lockout is gonna make it complicated to deal with anyone, right?
So- Yeah for example, after an off season that Sha- Sean Manaea come back with very low velocity and have to build back up, the Mets in a lockout scenario will not be able to work with him during the off season, right?
I think Sean can handle himself, but that's just an example of someone who, okay, you're trying to maybe change the off season plan so what happened this year doesn't happen again.
It's gonna be harder to control that if you're locked out and can't talk to your players.
So young players, for sure that's an issue.
It's an issue with everyone, and it'll be kind of fascinating to see what happens.
Now, I still am not super convinced we're gonna lose a lot of games next year.
Maybe I'm overly optimistic, so I think you kind of cross that bridge when you come to it.
But remember, like, those young players are part of the union too.
And so when the union is making decisions about what's gonna happen, those guys' fates and their trajectories and their careers are on the line here, and I think that's part of the incentive in many cases to not miss games and to get a deal done.
Like, it matters.
So yeah, there's not a lot anyone can really do, once they're locked out, and I think if you're a young player who, who is making a name for themselves and don't wanna lose that momentum and wanna stay in touch with the team that has helped you grow, like, that's gonna make it harder to agree to a lockout.
It is so funny because you talk to some people and they're like Two weeks to a month, that's as much as they're gonna miss.
Oh my goodness.
Yes.
This is Nimbus.
He's, he's really here today.
Nimbus.
He's here for the ball.
Nimbus, this is like MVP of our show- I know Nimbus.
He's, he's soothing.
Not that your daughter, Junie, is not, but yeah.
No, no, she can't be trusted in these scenarios.
Yeah.
Nimbus is a little more trained.
She's just a liability.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
I mean, apple doesn't fall far from the tree, so.
Yeah, 100%.
I mean, I was late today, so it's not Yeah, totally.
Scott Thompson on Facebook said, "What is the most pressing position player need for the Mets in 2027, and how do they fill it?
First base, second base, or catcher?
Assuming Bichette does not opt out, who is the most realistic option for a front-end starter to anchor the rotation?"
Wow, Scott, we're getting a little greedy with the questions here.
You're asking a lot in one.
So we'll start with the first.
What's the most pressing position player need for the Mets, and how do they fill it?
Yeah, I mean, if Bo doesn't opt out, right, I think that's a huge caveat.
If he does, then, then anywhere in the infield with a bat, it becomes the most pressing need, and you figure out the rest later.
But I If he doesn't, and I, I kind of think he won't, but no one knows right now, I think it's first.
I think it's first base.
I- it's tough because it's first base and you have two people on the roster who fit best at first base in Jared Young and Jorge Polanco.
Yeah.
Jared Young has had the best season of his Major League career.
He's shown a lot of reason to believe he can handle that role, both against right-handed pitching and in general.
I think when he's gotten at bats against lefties, he's been pretty good.
And then Polanco, like you don't know.
Could he hit?
If he C- can he field?
Is he gonna be able to play next year after this surgery?
It's a log jam, but the logs are all broken kind of.
You know?
There's not one where you're like this is I- it's a terrible metaphor, but, um- No, I love it.
Yeah, you- It's not a strong log.
Yeah.
I, I Something about this is upsetting me, the phrasing, but I'm gonna abandon it.
But yeah, I think, I think, you know, like you're not totally sure Jared Young's the guy.
You don't know what Jorge Polanco can do.
But do you bring in someone who then gives you three people kind of in that mix?
I think you have to.
I think it's a great place to try to go get a bat, but it'll be interesting to see.
Catcher, I think they're fine.
I know Alvarez can be frustrating at times.
He's still, like even as he is this year, one of the more offensive product- or productive offensive catchers in baseball, and he's young, and it can get better.
And you know, I get it.
Watching him every day, there's frustration, but like he's good for his age at a position where people are not good at hitting the ball out of the park.
So I think they're fine there.
But, yeah, I think finding a place to bring in another consistent, reliable bat is gonna be the goal, whether that's at second, whether that's first, I don't know.
As for starting pitchers, I mean, Scoob was the obvious one.
Clay Holmes makes a lot of sense for all the obvious reasons, you know, if you're gonna bring someone back.
So those are the guys that are kind of on my radar, but I think they're gonna have to get creative.
It might end up being someone who's not on the radar.
Could they go to Japan?
There's a couple guys coming over.
So you know, if it's not Scoob, well, I don't, I don't know who the most realistic choice is.
I would think Clay Holmes is someone they should chase, but you know, it'll be interesting.
Next question is @KatInTheNYGroove on X. Mm-hmm.
"Is there any internal talk, on the impact of Clifford's decline to their first base strategy?
One could view their approach to first base this off-season as quietly awaiting for Clifford to emerge as the end of 2026 and 2027 solution.
Who is next in line and, or are they starting from square one?"
Yeah, good question.
I mean, tough year for Ryan Clifford.
I think we'll learn a lot about this when they kind of make decisions on him in the off-season, because if I'm not mistaken, he needs to be added to the 40-man, or he can be taken in the Rule 5 draft.
So there's a lot there.
I, I have not heard him as part of the immediate plan at all, which doesn't mean he's not, but he just hasn't played his way into it, right?
And, and there's so many other people in the, in the line.
Like Mark Vientos, you know, with all due respect, is probably more like imminently in the first base plan right now than Ryan Clifford.
So there's that.
I actually think the young guys are more a part of the plan for next year at second base.
You know- I think Simeon is getting older.
You know, I don't expect them to You know, it kind of is a great situation for whoever, whichever prospect rises, you know, and they have a lot of them right now.
You know, bring them in, let them learn from Simeon, and split time and see if they're ready.
Like, I think that's the move there.
So I, I don't necessarily think the Clifford decline impacts anything other than his career, which, you know, it's there's still time, but, yeah, I don't think that's necessarily like a huge game changer for them in terms of next year's roster.
I also just don't think that they're in the position anymore to just be like, "Let's just give this guy a chance and ride it out."
Like, I feel like they've- Totally used up their allotment of doing that, and Ryan Clifford is unfortunately the odd man out now- Yes again- 100% until he plays his way in.
Um- Yeah @TrippyVibe37 on X, "Do you think the Mets could move Bo Bichette to second and leave room for Rojas at third because Bo doesn't have the strongest arm?"
So I think they're really happy with Bo at third.
I think Bo's happy with Bo at third too.
Like- he looks pretty comfortable over there.
I wouldn't- Yeah rule it out, just because if there's like an excellent third baseman around, great, like go get him, that can hit.
I just don't see it.
I think, I think you're way more likely to move a, you know, a Rojas or someone to second than the reverse.
But I think everyone is everyone's kind of like, "Yeah, Bo's pretty good at third actually."
and that- to me means like after a year where they mess with absolutely everyone in position, I think you just leave him.
So that's why I think that.
1000%.
Yeah.
Again, not in a position to be moving that around.
Also- Yeah I'm pretty sure Bo's outs above average are higher at third than they are at short, which it's like- Yeah if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Let's just like let him- 100% focus on hitting now.
Yes.
It's working, like leave him alone.
Yeah.
Yes.
Long Island Lobsters on X, "If the season ended today, who gets your vote for ML Rookie of the Year?"
Thankfully, I don't have to vote for that, um- because that would be really hard, given what I've watched every day from Carson Bench.
I th- I think my vote goes to JJ Weatherholt just because he's been- Yeah such a good defender.
I also think Sal Stewart has been really good.
I don't know.
It's tough.
But Bench and McClain, I thought like a month ago were not in this conversation, and now they are.
Like they're gonna get a lot of votes.
So the way it's set up now is if, if you bring someone up and they win Rookie of the Year, you get a draft pick, um- Oh, I see.
Okay you know, as incentive to get guys up.
But I Basically what I'm saying is like they're in the conversation in a way I didn't think they were, and that matters.
Yeah.
It's cool.
But I, I don't think right now I could vote for them, even though I think Carson Bench has been absolutely electric.
Bucky Fox on X said, "Tong coming up in September?"
Question mark.
Yeah.
Probably.
I think.
I think he's calmed down a little bit.
So and looks like the stuff is there, and Robert Stock has been struggling, although, like he's such a great story, so like you kind of want Robert Stock to just thrive.
But I, I think just like long-term, yeah, it makes sense to give Tong a chance up here.
Unless, unless they think it's better to just let him kind of do well at triple A.
But yeah, I, I would expect to see him at some point.
Yeah.
For sure.
I was talking to Zach Thornton the other day in Chicago, and like Jonah Tang, unfortunately the odd man out right now because, you know, he, McClain, Christian Scott, like they're all buddies and then Jonah Tang is just like the one that's still- not walking through rings like But he's been doing well so far, so that's- Yes you know.
Well, and yeah, and I, I to bring this full circle, then you could preserve his rookie eligibility for next year, and I looked it up and it is- Yeah you do have to finish first for Rookie of the Year, but if you win a s- if you finish in the top three in Cy Young or MVP voting later, you get something.
So whatever.
Doesn't matter.
Okay.
It's still They're in the conversation, and I think that's great.
And yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Tong is another If he f- figured it out, then he's a great candidate for that next year too, so there you go.
Way to be resourceful.
We appreciate that.
Try.
A real journalist.
Sort of.
Andrew Kim on Facebook, last question, "What has been your favorite giveaway at Citi Field this year?"
Oh my God.
That's such a good question.
So I not like personally, but I really enjoyed There were like these Hello Kitty plushies that people were like hanging from their seats, and they like had them in weird I just like was laughing seeing how they people were like reacting.
We're all different.
Yeah.
It was great.
And the vibes were great.
I have three.
Oh, do you?
I don't even want one, to be honest with you.
I, I went as a fan that game, and I took my whole family and we had four and then my mom took one for my niece, and now I have three.
And, um- People are gonna break into your apartment to get those.
Like those are- No, I will- probably essentials like who wants them?
I, I, I I mean, it's not that I don't want them, it's just like I can only do so much with three.
And they're collectibles because there's different- Right versions of them.
They have like the little keychain.
Is that what you're talking about?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And people were like hanging them from the fence in front of their seat, and it like looked kind of like sinister but also funny.
Um- I just enjoyed that.
I just thought it was funny.
But also, like people love that stuff.
Like the lines are out the door.
Yeah.
They do.
Like- Yeah.
They really do I mean, hey.
I don't know about r- I'm, I'm like a real kitty person.
So.
No, Nimbus would get jealous.
I know.
He's right here.
He's like, "What are you talking about?"
but yeah.
Oh.
It's That was a good one.
I, I Let's just love the enthusiasm.
That's all.
Yes.
All right.
Well, thank you so much, for watching this edition of Mets Mailbag, everybody.
Like we said before, we're gonna be with you every week of what's left of the Mets' 2026 season to answer your questions.
Submit your questions for next week's episode on SMY's Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram account, or drop them in the YouTube comments below this episode.
For Chelsea James, I'm Michelle Margo.
We'll see you next week.
