Ex-Outfielder Reportedly Declines Chance To Interview With Mets To Replace Buck Showalter

Who will take over the manager role for the Mets this offseason?

It sounds like one former big league outfielder will not be taking over the New York Mets' manager position this offseason. 

Current Texas Rangers associate manager Will Venable reportedly declined a request from the Mets to interview for the vacant manager spot, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. 

"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," Sherman said. “'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 the (Houston Astros’) 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."

Venable would've been an intriguing candidate for the Mets. He has plenty of big league experience playing nine seasons with the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Rangers. He has served as a bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, special assistant for the Chicago Cubs, and now is the associate manager under Bruce Bochy for the Rangers. 

New York has been linked to Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell on a handful of occasions and is the most likely candidate to fill the role.