Luis Rojas may not be welcome back into the skipper’s office in Flushing, but he’s getting some attention in San Diego.
Rojas interviewed for the Padres’ managerial opening this past weekend, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Recently axed Cardinals manager Mike Shildt also interviewed with San Diego, and former Giants manager Bruce Bochy is said to be under consideration for the job, which is open following the team’s firing of Jayce Tingler after two seasons.
The Mets did not pick up the option on Rojas’ contract after their 77-85 season. Though Rojas will not return as Mets manager, the team has given him the opportunity to remain in the organization in a yet-to-be determined capacity.
Rojas, 40, has worked in the Mets organization since 2007, including his two seasons as big-league manager from 2020-21. The son of Felipe Alou and brother of Moises Alou, Rojas ascended from the minor leagues, where he managed from 2008-2018. After spending a decade in the minors, the Mets promoted Rojas to the major-league staff as quality control coach in 2019.
Moises Alou, the former six-time All-Star outfielder and Rojas’ brother, currently works as a special assistant to Padres GM A.J. Preller. It would be a reunion of sorts for the Alou baseball dynasty if Rojas is offered the job.
ANOTHER FRONT OFFICE WHIFF
The Mets interviewed Giants GM Scott Harris for the role of president of baseball operations, according to multiple reports. But after a chat with owner Steve Cohen, Harris — a Bay Area native — withdrew his name from consideration and decided to stay with the Giants. San Francisco led MLB with a 107-win season before losing to the Dodgers in the NLDS this year.
Harris is the fourth known swing-and-miss in the Mets’ front office search. Cohen also spoke to winning executive Theo Epstein earlier this month, and both decided it wasn’t a good fit. Billy Beane, A’s executive VP of operations and Sandy Alderson’s longtime friend, also withdrew his name from consideration after initially being excited for the opportunity. Brewers head of baseball operations David Stearns was denied permission to interview with the Mets for the second year in a row.
The Mets, also for the second straight year, intend to hire a president of baseball ops and a GM to work under that individual. As we reported, those close to Cohen say he is focused on hiring a younger, analytically driven executive for the role of chief of operations.
JAKE IS A SLUGGER FINALIST
The cherry on top of the Mets’ disappointing offensive season arrived this week: Jacob deGrom, the best starting pitcher in the game, was voted a Silver Slugger finalist. He was the only member of the Mets to be chosen.
DeGrom did not play in the second half of the season due to injury, but he hit .364 with a .758 OPS as a hitter across 33 at-bats in the first half. He finished tied for third in MLB in hits (12) as a pitcher. Other finalists for the award include Max Fried (Braves), Madison Bumgarner (Diamondbacks), and German Marquez (Rockies). DeGrom has never won the Silver Slugger award.
The Mets offense ranked 27th out of 30 in runs per game in 2021. The club’s .238 average with runners in scoring position ranked 25th in the league, while its .704 OPS with RISP was ranked 26th.
The Silver Slugger award recognizes the best offensive performers at each position in each league. This year’s World Series teams, the Braves and Astros, have five players apiece on the list, tied for the most of any team in the league. The Yankees and Blue Jays also have five finalists. The award winners, which will be announced on Nov. 11, are decided by votes from the manager and coaches of each team.
