Mets' Alderson: Executives reluctant to come to New York
New York Mets president Sandy Alderson believes the team hasn't been able to find a president of baseball operations or general manager because candidates are intimidated at the prospect of working in the biggest market in the country.
"In some cases, we haven't gotten permission, in some cases, I think, people are comfortable where they are. ... And in other cases, I think, admittedly, there's a reluctance to come to New York," Alderson told SNY on Tuesday at the GM in Carlsbad, California. "But I think it's mostly about New York, and not about (owner) Steven (Cohen) or the organization.
"It's a big stage, and some people would just prefer to be elsewhere."
The 73-year-old executive added: "If you're looking to be comfortable, the Mets are probably not the place to come," according to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News.
Alderson also said he's not ready to give a timeline on when the club will hire a new GM, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
The Mets have reportedly been denied permission to speak with Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro, former World Series-winning executive Theo Epstein, longtime Oakland Athletics president Billy Beane, Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns, and Milwaukee GM Matt Arnold.
Additionally, St. Louis Cardinals GM Mike Girsch, Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM Brandon Gomes, and Boston Red Sox assistant GM Raquel Ferreira also turned down New York.
The Mets are looking for a new GM after they reportedly let Zack Scott go last week following a DWI arrest. Scott, who's facing criminal charges, replaced Jared Porter in January. New York fired Porter after he was found to have sent explicit and unsolicited images to a reporter in 2016 while he worked for the Chicago Cubs.
The Mets also don't have a manager after they parted ways with Luis Rojas in early October.