ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez has reportedly emerged as the “clear front runner” for the New York Mets manager opening.
After the New York Mets failed to land Joe Girardi as their next manager, they remain actively searching for their next head man. While the team doesn’t appear prepared to make an announcement, the process is moving along.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter), the team has a front runner for the position.
ESPN’s Eduardo Perez is emerging as the “clear front runner” for the job, according to Nightengale.
Eduardo Perez has emerged as the clear front runner for #Mets managerial job
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 25, 2019
Perez spent 13 years in the major leagues, retiring after the 2006 season. He joined ESPN as an analyst until being named the Miami Marlins hitting coach. He also served as the Houston Astros bench coach in 2013 for one season.
He rejoined ESPN in 2014 and he works there currently. He has managed in Puerto Rico, winning manager of the year in the Puerto Rico Baseball League in 2008 and he managed the Santurce Crabbers to the Carribean World Series in the 2014-2015 season.
The 50-year-old Perez has been in baseball for a long time, but has no managerial experience in the United States. However, teams have not shown any trepidation towards hiring inexperienced managers in recent years.
If hired Perez would actually become the second ESPN analyst hired from the booth to the Big Apple, as New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone had worked for ESPN before joining them. He’s certainly had success, winning 100 games and making the playoffs in each of his two seasons.
Perez would hope to follow in his success should he be hired by the Mets to lead their franchise.
