Mets name Buck Showalter as manager

Veteran skipper Buck Showalter is the New York Mets' new manager, team owner Steven Cohen announced Saturday.

Showalter is joining the Mets on a three-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Showalter, 65, is the 24th manager in franchise history. The three-time Manager of the Year is a 20-year veteran across tenures with the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, and, most recently, the Baltimore Orioles.

He becomes the fifth manager in MLB history to manage both New York clubs, joining Casey Stengel, Yogi Berra, Joe Torre, and Dallas Green.

The announcement follows a multi-month search for Luis Rojas' replacement after the team dismissed Rojas at seasons' end. Rojas managed the club for two campaigns after somewhat suddenly replacing Carlos Beltran; the Mets hired and fired Beltran following the 2019 season before he managed a game for the team.

Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada were reportedly among the finalists for the position.

The Mets, who have faced multiple hiring debacles over the past few seasons, also hired Billy Eppler as their new general manager earlier this offseason. In Showalter and Eppler, the team has opted for experience rather than up-and-coming candidates such as Jared Porter, Zack Scott, Mickey Callaway, or Beltran.

Team president Sandy Alderson has also expressed a desire to add a president of baseball operations.