Four potential candidates to replace former Mets manager Buck Showalter

The New York Mets officially introduced Manhattan native David Stearns as the first president of baseball operations in franchise history on Monday. 

The first item on the former Milwaukee Brewers exec's agenda will be hiring a new manager as New York parted ways with Buck Showalter on Sunday after two seasons with the club. 

Here are four names circulating around the industry as potential replacements for Showalter. 

Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers manager

The impending free agent has been mentioned as a front-runner for the job since rumors about Stearns coming to Queens started spreading. While the Mets' new POBO inherited the 53-year-old manager in Milwaukee, Counsell would be the most sought-after candidate on the market should he leave the Brewers.  

In addition to being the winningest manager in Brewers history, Counsell has guided Milwaukee to six winning seasons and five playoff appearances, leading teams with payrolls substantially lower than the ones he would have with the Mets. 

Despite reports that he was considering taking time off from managing, Counsell recently addressed his upcoming free agency with The Athletic's Tyler Kepner, saying, "I’m not under contract, so if other people ask, I’m not going to ignore it." 

If Mets owner Steve Cohen is willing to open up his checkbook for Counsell, the opportunity will be difficult to resist, especially with Stearns already signed on.

Carlos Beltrán, New York Mets special assistant to general manager

On Monday, Stearns told reporters that he'd be open to hiring a first-time manager, and while Beltrán briefly held the position, he resigned before managing a game for his involvement in the Astros sign-stealing scandal. The former Mets outfielder rejoined the organization in a front-office role last offseason and could be a positive influence in the clubhouse if given another shot at managing.

A possible concern regarding Showalter's departure is the potential adverse effect on relationships within the clubhouse, particularly that of shortstop Francisco Lindor. The four-time All-Star has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Showalter as a manager and as someone who let his daughter "run around and love on him." 

Building and maintaining strong relationships is important to Lindor, so hiring Beltrán, someone experienced with the pressure of playing in New York, would be a wise move.

Not to mention that during his first season with the Mets, where he received harsh criticism due to his underwhelming performance, Lindor leaned on Beltrán, with whom he shares Puerto Rican roots, as a mentor. 

Beltrán endured a similar experience because of his lackluster play in 2005, the first season of a seven-year, $119M contract, the largest in franchise history at the time. 

Joe Espada, Houston Astros bench coach

The World Series champion's name has been mentioned frequently over the last several offseasons as someone destined to become a manager. Espada was a finalist for the Mets job before the organization decided to hire Showalter, and he has since received interviews with the White Sox, Marlins and A's. 

Stearns said on Monday that he would "cast a wide net" to find candidates for his upcoming search, and circling back to Espada seems sensible from a due diligence standpoint. However, considering the Mets have already turned him down once, and he still hasn't been given the opportunity to be a manager, Espada might not be the right candidate.

Clayton McCullough, Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach

A finalist for the Kansas City Royals' managerial vacancy last offseason, McCullough is another candidate the Mets interviewed for the same position in 2021. Although he didn't make it as far in the process as Espada, the New York Post's Jon Heyman previously reported that the Mets "loved" McCullough's interview and had significant interest in hiring him as their bench coach. 

Before joining the Dodgers, McCullough served as a manager in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system, where he amassed a 402-367 record. The Mets clearly want to get younger throughout the organization to begin building around the influx of high-end prospects they acquired at the trade deadline. 

At 43 years old, McCullough is an ideal option the team should consider to develop those players and help establish a new culture.