Would Mets Court Queens Native to Take Over as President?

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen would have to look far for an experienced team president that knows how things work in New York.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen spent over 20 minutes with the media on Wednesday and said that he is still interested in finding a new president of baseball operations.

Mets general manager Billy Eppler is doing both the general manager role and president of baseball operations role, the latter of which was managed by Sandy Alderson until he resigned last year. When Alderson transitioned away, he moved into an advisory role and it was believed that Cohen was looking for a replacement with more of a business background than a baseball background.

The Mets could go a lot of different directions with the role. The most prominent connection has been to David Stearns, the former president of baseball operations for the Milwaukee Brewers, who is working through the final year of his Brewers deal as an advisor.

Stearns was both a general manager and a president of baseball operations for the Brewers, so he has experience in both areas. To some, he’s a logical candidate. He’s a native of Manhattan and went to Harvard.

But, could the Mets go after a former general manager and president of baseball operations that actually grew up in Queens?

Jon Daniels is serving as a special advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Before that he spent more than two decades with the Texas Rangers — first as assistant general manager, then as general manager and then as president of baseball operations.

The Rangers fired him in August, but as the Rangers have moved into first place in the American League West — using much of the talent he procured before his dismissal — his reputation is getting a bit of a polish.

While with the Rangers he built the teams that reached the 2010 and 2011 World Series.

He has the experience and credentials. He also grew up in Queens, not far from Citi Field and the Mets’ former home, Shea Stadium. He also went to Cornell in upstate New York.

Daniels may appeal to Cohen due to his experience. Cohen may appeal to Daniels because, well, Cohen doesn’t care how much he spends as long as the Mets win.

Only time will tell if there is interest on either side.