Andy Green was about three-quarters of the way through a daylong interview in October for the Mets’ managerial opening when the subject changed to another facet of the industry.

David Stearns, the team’s new baseball boss, wanted to know how Green felt about potentially one day working in a front office, in player development.

The 46-year-old former Padres manager — who didn’t know he was about to get replaced as Cubs bench coach with manager David Ross’ surprise firing and Craig Counsell’s hiring — didn’t understand in the moment where Stearns was headed with his inquiry, but reacted positively to the question. Even so, Green was there to discuss the manager’s vacancy.

“It should’ve been an indication, ‘Yeah, probably a different role in mind [by Stearns] right now,’” Green said this week at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn. “We didn’t take that any further, but I remember that question that day.”