Let the Billy Beane rumors begin!
Now that the Oakland A’s have been knocked out of playoff contention and their season is coming to an end, the ever present rumors about Beane are set to start once more. This time, those rumors are not waiting for the A’s to throw their final pitch of the season, as Jon Heyman has reported that the New York Mets are planning to request permission to speak to Beane.
Mets will soon contact Theo Epstein regarding their Baseball President job and plan to request permission to interview Billy Beane and David Stearns after their clubs are out (A’s are done Sunday, Brewers may be awhile). So Theo could be up 1st as Mets try for a proven star.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 3, 2021
New York Mets to pursue Billy Beane
It is understandable that the Mets would have interest in Beane. They need to completely change the culture of their organization in every aspect, including the front office. With owner Steve Cohen demanding that the Mets contend for a championship, and the continued circus surrounding the franchise, things have to change.
Bringing Beane in would be a step in that direction. He has been a hotly desired commodity for years, with the Red Sox, in particular, pursuing his services. Yet, he has remained with the A’s, a franchise that he has been a part of in different aspects since his final year as a player in 1989.
Beane’s success with the A’s has been impressive. Despite constant payroll issues and a lack of resources from ownership, Oakland has been able to contend more often than not. While he has not brought a championship to the A’s, he has done just about everything he can.
The Mets would be a completely different challenge. He would finally have a payroll to work with, and an owner who is more interested in winning than the bottom line. He would also be tasked with turning the Mets into the talk of New York, bringing them out of the A’s shadow.
But questions remain. Would the A’s be willing to allow Cohen to talk to Beane? And even if they are, would Beane be willing to head to New York? Even if he wants another challenge, it is more likely to come through his sports ownership group than in running a different major league front office.
The New York Mets are reportedly interested in Billy Beane. It is time for the rumor mill to start churning once more.