Former Cleveland Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway is expected to be named the 21st manager in New York Mets history.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post was the first to break the news that the Mets had settled on Mickey Callaway as their next manager, adding that contract details were being worked on Sunday afternoon.
Strong indications Callaway is the guy. But nothing final yet. Contracts being done today. #Mets mum
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 22, 2017
Callaway, 42, has spent the past five seasons as the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians. His tutelage was a big reason why the Tribe’s pitching staff has become one of MLB’s finest, leading the AL in strikeouts for four consecutive years (2013-17).
That bodes well for the Mets, whose chances of future success remain largely tied to their injury riddled-yet-talented staff.
A seventh-round pick by Tampa Bay in 1996, Callaway spent parts of five years in the majors with three different teams—the Rays, the then-Anaheim Angels and the Texas Rangers. Over 40 games (20 starts), he went 4-11 with a 6.27 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.
Callaway might not be the sexiest name that was discussed as a possible replacement for Terry Collins, but he’ll bring a fresh perspective and voice to the clubhouse, something the Mets sorely need—and that hitting coach Kevin Long would have been unable to deliver.
