In the end, experience and demeanor won out. The Mets have hired Terry Collins to be their next manager, a source confirmed early Sunday evening.
An official announcement could come as soon as Sunday night, after the two sides agree to contract terms. The Mets have yet to comment on the hiring.
Collins, 61, is coming off his first season as Mets' Minor League field coordinator, following jobs managing the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Central League and the Chinese national team in the World Baseball Classic. Posting a 444-434 record in six years managing the Astros (1994-96) and Angels (1997-99), Collins guided his two big league teams to second-place finishes in five of those six years.
He beat out a field that included fellow finalists Bob Melvin, Chip Hale and Wally Backman.
Collins has a familiarity with the Mets, which assuredly helped him in the interview process, and also boasts a strong relationship with new Mets vice president of player development and amateur scouting Paul DePodesta.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson discussed the decision with his team of executives Sunday after taking time off to attend his father's funeral service earlier in the weekend.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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