Mets to interview Dodgers bench coach, former A's skipper Bob Geren for managerial opening

Former Athletics manager Bob Geren will interview for the Mets’ managerial vacancy this week, according to SNY’s Andy Martino (Twitter link).  Geren is the sixth known candidate for the job, joining Buck Showalter, Brad Ausmus, Joe Espada, Don Kelly and Matt Quatraro as names on the Amazins’ radar.

Like Showalter and Ausmus, Geren has some past big-league managerial experience on his résumé, as he posted a 334-376 record while working as Oakland’s skipper from 2007-11. He has also previously worked in the Mets’ dugout, serving as the club’s bench coach from 2012-15. For the past six seasons, Geren has worked as Dave Roberts’ bench coach with the Dodgers.

Geren has been linked to several other managerial jobs since his time in Oakland, such as the Dodgers’ job that went to Roberts, the Red Sox vacancy that went to Alex Cora, the Giants’ job that went to Gabe Kapler and even one of the Mets’ recent managerial searches. Before New York hired Mickey Callaway prior to the 2018 season, Geren was reportedly one of the early contenders as a possible replacement for Terry Collins, though it didn’t appear as if Geren made it too deep (if at all) into the interview process.

This past connection to the Mets certainly makes Geren a known quantity to both president Sandy Alderson and owner Steve Cohen, whereas the other known candidates don’t have any past ties to Queens. Ausmus and Espada did previously work with GM Billy Eppler, creating an interesting mix of familiarity and entirely fresh voices within the group of six.