ARLINGTON, Texas — The Mets sought permission to interview Will Venable for their managerial opening, but the Rangers’ associate manager declined the request due to his comfort in his current situation.
“I talked to them very briefly, but that was at the point where I already had made the decision that I was staying here,” Venable told The Post before Houston’s 5-4 win in Game 5.
David Stearns, the Mets’ new president of baseball operations, has said he will consider a large pool of candidates to succeed Buck Showalter, including those with no previous MLB managerial experience such as Venable — who did fill in on an interim basis in Boston on a few occasions when Alex Cora was unavailable.
Will Venable declined an interview with the Mets. Getty ImagesMultiple MLB officials have said they believe it is far from a slam dunk that Stearns is just biding time and will ultimately hire Craig Counsell, whom he worked with in Milwaukee and whose Brewers contract will expire at the end of this month.
Venable played for nine seasons in the majors, mainly for the Padres.
He has served on the coaching staff for the Cubs and Red Sox and has been Bruce Bochy’s associate manager since Bochy joined the Rangers after the 2022 season.
Venable has been with Bruce Bochy since the manager was hired by the Rangers in 2022. Getty Images“I’ve been fortunate to work for great organizations and I think at this point of my process and just where I am personally it is more about the group and people then about my role and between C.Y. [Rangers GM Chris Young] and Bochy and our staff and our players, I have a place that feels right for me and and my family. So this offseason, I am not pursuing any other jobs,” Venable said.
