Just hours after officially taking over the New York Mets, billionaire Steve Cohen is starting over by wiping out the team’s entire front office. Among those departing, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.
Just three years after the Mets hired Van Wagenen to replace Sandy Alderson as general manager, the former agent and his inner circle will be leaving the organization.
New York Mets news: Brodie Van Wagenen fired, front office cleared out
On Friday, following the completed purchase of the team, team president Sandy Alderson announced sweeping changes to New York’s front office.
Effective immediately, Van Wagenen is leaving his post immediately as the team’s general manager. He will be joined by special assistant Omar Minaya; vice president and assistant general manager for scouting & player development Allard Baird; assistant general manager for systematic development Adam Guttridge and executive director of player development Jared Banner.
Notably, skipper Luis Rojas will remain as manager for the time being. He has a relationship with Alderson, from their time together in the organization, who will return as the team’s president of baseball operations.
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Van Wagenen’s tenure in New York won’t be remembered fondly. In addition to blasting MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on a hot mic, he made some equally bad blunders with several moves.
The Mets traded top prospect Jarred Kelenic to the Seattle Mariners, taking on a significant chunk of Robinson Cano’s bloated contract and buying high on star closer Edwin Diaz. Since arriving in New York, Diaz has been a massive disappointment. Meanwhile, Kelenic is a consensus top-10 prospect and will make his MLB debut in 2021.
New York also signed infielder Jed Lowrie to a two-year, $20 million deal in 2019. He would play in just nine games across two seasons, missing a majority of the time with lower-body injuries.
With Cohen in charge, expect the Mets to be among the most active teams this offseason. Given the new owner’s desire to turn his favorite team into a winner, New York could make several big moves this winter.