Who should the Mets pick to replace Terry Collins?

ByESPN INSIDERS
October 1, 2017, 6:58 PM

— -- The Mets entered 2017 with the understandable expectation that they might return to the postseason for a third straight year, having won a National League pennant in 2015 (only to lose the World Series to the Royals), and lost the NL wild-card game in 2016. After all, they had a young, talented rotation, a lineup stocked with veteran power hitters, and some nearly ready A-list prospects who might reinforce their bid to win. And they had the benefit of manager Terry Collins, who had guided them to their previous postseason appearances and holds the franchise record for games managed.

Those expectations were spectacularly disappointed in a season undermined by injuries and public arguments between players and management, a yearlong meltdown that culminated in Collins' decision to resign at the end of the regular season. With change coming to the Mets' dugout for the first time since Collins was selected to replace Jerry Manuel after the 2010 season, we asked ESPN's Jerry Crasnick and David Schoenfield to weigh in on who might be the next manager of the Mets.

1. Who are the best fits?

Jerry Crasnick: If the Mets decide to stay in-house, hitting coach Kevin Long would be a good fit. He was the Yankees' hitting coach from 2007 through 2014 and he's held the same role with the Mets over the past three seasons, so he understands the unique pressures and expectations of managing in New York. Long has a positive message, he's a worker and he's good with the media. He also had a front-row seat to the soap opera this season, so he's well equipped to avoid some of the mistakes that Terry Collins made.

If the Mets decide to go outside the organization, Astros bench coach Alex Cora would be a name to consider. He has an excellent rapport with players, and he's developed an appreciation for analytics in the manager's chair while apprenticing under A.J. Hinch in Houston. Cora spent the bulk of his 14-year playing career with the Dodgers, Red Sox and Mets, so he won't be overwhelmed by New York.

David Schoenfield: Don Mattingly is signed through 2019 to manage the Marlins, but Derek Jeter seems intent on wiping out most of the previous regime, so who knows if Mattingly will survive the purge -- even though he and Jeter go back to the Yankees. If Mattingly does get canned, he'd be a good fit in New York: Experienced, can deal with the New York media, guided the Dodgers to three playoff spots and kept the talent-thin Marlins close to .500 the past two seasons. Plus, it would be a good publicity hire for the Mets, even if Mattingly was an icon in the other pinstripes.

Aside from Mattingly, I think the Mets would be smart to go with an experienced manager. Alex Cora and Raul Ibanez may have "future manager" written all over them, but do you want to bring a first-time manager into the cesspool of the New York media and the Wilpon ownership? That's a big risk. But then you're stuck with retreads like Brad Ausmus or Fredi Gonzalez or Manny Acta or Matt Williams (just kidding).

Actually, Ausmus may be a guy who deserves another chance. While he's not the most electrifying media personality, maybe the Mets need somebody a little more low-key than Collins.

2. Who are some under-the-radar names to keep an eye on?

Crasnick: Cleveland pitching coach Mickey Callaway is starting to generate a lot of buzz as a managerial candidate. "He's on everybody's list," said one executive. "He's going to be a manager soon." Callaway has done an impressive job with Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and the rest of the Indians' staff, and it's intriguing to think of the positive impact he might have working with the pitchers in New York.

Schoenfield: Indians bench coach Brad Mills, Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren, Mets bench coach Dick Scott, White Sox bench coach and former Mets supersub and cult hero Joe McEwing, former Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and David Wright (hey, they're already paying him).

3. What's going to be the new manager's biggest challenge for getting the Mets back into immediate contention in 2018?

Crasnick: The new manager needs to rise above the politics and negativity that set in around the Mets this season, and he needs to maximize the team's strengths and get the young pitchers on track. It's a stretch to think the Mets can get back to the postseason in 2018, but they have enough talent to exceed this year's 70-win total if they stay relatively healthy.

Schoenfield: Well, finding five healthy starting pitchers would be a good start. If Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith can make the adjustments to big league pitching -- a big if, considering how bad both have looked so far -- the Mets will have some talent to include alongside hopefully healthier Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes.