Joe Torre attended the unveiling of the monument to George Steinbrenner Monday night at Yankee Stadium. Prior to the event, Torre added fuel to the speculation he might be interested in managing the New York Mets if that job opens at the end of the season.
“Oh, there is no question,” Torre told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ian O’Connor after being asked if he would listen if Fred and Jeff Wilpon called him about the Mets’ managerial job. “That is why I didn’t shut the door. I saw Freddie [Wilpon] when they unveiled Commissioner [Bud] Selig’s statue [in Milwaukee,] but we just said hello.”
The Mets could have interest, but first they are expected to decide if they will reassign current general manager Omar Minaya. A new GM would likely have a large say in who their next manager will be. Current Mets manager Jerry Manuel is not expected to return.
Along with current ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine, another ex-Mets manager, Torre could emerge as a very popular choice among the team’s fan base.
“I’m honored, you know, that people would think of me,” said Torre, who announced last week he would not return to the Dodgers next season. “Not too many guys 70 years old, people would think about going somewhere as a manager.”
Earlier in the day, Torre said that he hadn’t spoken to anyone about a new managerial opportunity.
“I have not had and nobody that I know of has had contact with anybody,” Torre told WFAN in New York when asked about the Mets on Monday. “I am curious. When the season is over, I hope the phone will be ringing.”
Torre does love the spotlight, and I speculated earlier that he would love the job if it is offered. He sure would be a lot more fun to deal with than Jerry Manuel.