Steve Cohen didn’t hide his intention about hiring a president of baseball operations for the Mets.
The owner revealed his desire during the second answer of his press conference Wednesday, when, for 23 minutes, he addressed the disappointing Mets season and was asked about his belief in the current management group. He then dictated what sounded like points of a job description.
He then dictated what sounded like points of a job description.
Cohen reiterated he won’t rush his decision. But there’s an underlying commitment to find someone for a position above general manager Billy Eppler, making the franchise’s baseball decisions even as Cohen envisions the pair working together.
That part could get complicated. But Cohen said he and Eppler have spoken about it, and Eppler supports the addition to the front office.
Mets owner Steve Cohen wants to make sure he gets his big front office hire correct. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post“If you want to hire great talent, they just don’t show up,” Cohen said. “I’ve been patient because I do not want to make a mistake, and so I can’t tell you if it’s gonna be this year. I don’t know. Is it gonna be next year? I don’t know. But at some point, that’s gonna happen.”
Though Cohen didn’t mention candidates, he acknowledged that he doesn’t want a “rookie.” The Post’s Jon Heyman previously reported that the Mets could pursue Brewers adviser — and former president of baseball operations — David Stearns in the offseason, reigniting similar interest that existed two winters ago.
The team also needs to hire a president to replace Sandy Alderson, who announced that he’ll transition into an advisory role in November.
Signs have long pointed to David Stearns as a candidate for the Mets’ top baseball job. APCohen’s vision impacted his present outlook on the Mets’ management, too.
He doesn’t want to make “impulsive” decisions, which prompted his support for Eppler and Showalter — along with his guarantee that they “absolutely” won’t get fired before the season’s end.
Cohen doesn’t want to “win the headline” for that day.
Mets GM Billy Eppler is ‘supportive’ of Steve Cohen’s want for a president of baseball ops. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTThat approach only earns him the label of an owner with a “short fuse” that no one wants to work for, he said.
With the president of baseball operations, the worst-case scenario would emerge if Cohen rushed a decision and it backfired, he said. That could set the Mets back five or 10 years. He remembers how difficult it was to find Eppler in November 2021, ink him to a four-year contract and get someone — anyone — to run the team.
The difference between the future president of baseball operations and Eppler “are titles,” Cohen said. He envisioned a complementary relationship between Eppler and whoever he hires, building on what Cohen considers a strong infrastructure.
Sometimes, Cohen said, those improvements and investment dividends can be invisible to fans. He recently had a conversation with their head of minor league pitching and was “impressed by him.” Earlier Wednesday, Cohen attended a presentation on technology in the farm system.
But when he finally decides on a president of baseball operations, that’ll certainly be visible. It’ll mark the front office equivalent of the splashy offseason player signing that, to this point, hasn’t worked out.
“I’m taking my time,” Cohen said. “Hopefully, I’ll find the right person, and if I don’t find the right person this year, I’ll wait.”
