Those Mets

SKIPPER SEARCH IS ON

The Mets have not yet scheduled any managerial interviews, but names are already appearing and disappearing from their list. According to multiple league sources, former Mets catcher and Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will not interview for the job, and is expected to remain bench coach for the Kansas City Royals. There are indications that Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin could become a candidate, and Chip Hale and Wally Backman remain likely to interview. The Mets officially made Sandy Alderson their next GM Thursday by announcing an introductory news conference for 2 p.m. Friday. Alderson agreed to a four-year contract, according to sources. They will soon begin searching in earnest for a manager and other members of the front office. League sources confirmed that Alderson was considering asking Paul DePodesta to leave the San Diego Padres' front office to join the Mets. DePodesta, a former GM of the Dodgers and assistant GM under Billy Beane in Oakland, also worked for Alderson when Alderson was CEO of the Padres. He is currently executive vice president for San Diego. Sources also said they expected Alderson to pursue former Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi, possibly as scouting director. Ricciardi once worked in Alderson's front office. "I would think Sandy would want to bring him in," one National League executive said of DePodesta. "(The) only question is whether he would leave San Diego. I also wonder what that would mean for Ricco." John Ricco, the Mets' assistant GM who coordinated the search that culminated in Alderson's hiring, is well-positioned to eventually succeed Alderson. Although DePodesta and Ricciardi would also be strong voices if they joined the Mets, people who know all three believe they would work well together, and that neither DePodesta nor Ricciardi would necessarily affect Ricco's standing in Flushing. Gibbons, who recently interviewed with the Pirates before removing his name from consideration, has indicated that he is not interested in the Mets' job, either, league sources say. Hale, the Mets' third base coach this past season, is still under consideration, and could be a fit under Alderson. In past statements, Alderson has made clear that he favors managers willing to implement an organizational philosophy. Hale's lack of major league managerial experience could work against him, as could Backman's. The other internal candidates to interview could include Triple-A Buffalo manager Ken Oberkfell and scout Bob Melvin, a former Seattle and Arizona manager. Former Met and current Texas bench coach Clint Hurdle could also emerge.