Sandy Alderson might be a shoo-in to get the job eventually, but the first candidate interviewed for the New York Mets general manager vacancy was former Kansas City GM Allard Baird.
Baird, 48, spent 6 1/2 seasons last decade as general manager of the Royals. Due to payroll constraints in Kansas City, he became most famous for trading away young stars Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye and Carlos Beltran, on each occasion receiving little in return.
Because Baird’s background is in scouting, it is perhaps little surprise that Kansas City’s most productive moves under his watch came during various First-Year Player Drafts — most notably when the Royals selected starting pitcher Zack Greinke in 2002 and first baseman Billy Butler in 2004.
After the Royals dismissed him in 2006, Baird hooked on with the Red Sox, quickly rising to his current post of assistant to general manager Theo Epstein.
Baird interviewed on Monday with Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, assistant general manager John Ricco and other front-office executives. After meeting with Hahn, Byrnes and Alderson later this week, the Mets will proceed to the next phase of the interview process, reconnecting with the finalists.
Sounds like the Mets might have a GM in place within a week or so.
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