New York Mets: Brodie Van Wagenen choice makes very little sense

The New York Mets are set to hire their next general manager/head of baseball operations. Brodie Van Wagenen is a ridiculous choice and all too “Mets” like.

Just another off-season for the lovable New York Mets. They go off looking for a new general manager after the unfortunate situation with Sandy Alderson’s health. They interviewed candidates and decided upon the one most qualified for the job. Right?

Nope. Not the beloved New York Mets. Taking the most qualified candidate is too sensible for Fred Wilpon and friends. Take a look:

#Mets have agreement with Brodie Van Wagenen to become GM, source says, but MLBPA has concerns | @timbhealey @DPLennon https://t.co/jfO4TZpBmA pic.twitter.com/XFewGWZ6h1
— Newsday Sports (@NewsdaySports) October 27, 2018

For anyone that hasn’t been aware of this situation, Brodie Van Wagenen is a super agent that happens to represent many of the current Mets. The biggest ones are Jacob deGrom and Yoenis Cespedes.

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Let’s unpack this for a moment.

Of all of the GM’s in all of the world, they decided to hire a guy that has negotiated against the team on multiple occasions.

I have heard of the phrase, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”, but this is insane.

Of course, Van Wagenen will have to divest his interest in the firm he works for and no longer represent players.

Obviously he can’t act on both sides of the aisle for these players.

And it has been done before, with Dave Stewart as a legitimate example. However, there are real concerns, as pointed out by Tony Clark from the MLBPA (via Tim Healey of Newsday):

"“There has been a switching of sides throughout our history. It’s not the first time that it’s happened,” said Tony Clark, executive director of the MLBPA. “To the extent that in each instance that it does happen, are there things that we are concerned about? Yes. Are there things that we are going to be paying attention to? Yes."

Clark is absolutely right. The new head man will be walking a fine line here. He has been privy to information that the team hasn’t been. Can he create that wall and make sure that information doesn’t come up, now that he is on the other side of the negotiating table?

On the other hand, will he be too fast and loose with the team’s money for the players he has represented? He has to treat these players fairly, both for the team and the player. As much as we may want him to as fans, he can’t slant the process.

The risk reward doesn’t work out well here. This could work but it could also go very, very badly. The chance of the latter is very real.

Why do that? Because you are the Mets. Odd decisions are what drive Fred Wilpon and company.

After all, reports indicate that many of the top GM candidates around the league refused to interview with the Mets, and the Wilpons, specifically Jeff, were the reason.

Next. The finalists for GM for the Mets. dark

What makes the decision even sillier is the alternative candidate.

Chaim Bloom was the other finalist in it til the end. He has spent his entire executive career with the Tampa Bay Rays, sporting extensive experience in international scouting among other things. He’s analytical so he is up with the times as well.

Most importantly he has actually worked in a front office. Wouldn’t that make more sense for a team trying to rebuild correctly?

Nope, not to the wonderful ownership group heading up the Mets. It’s a disgrace and it continues to be a disgrace.

Nelson Doubleday sold his shares in the franchise when the getting was still good. Smart man.

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