Eduardo Perez Emerging as Legitimate Candidate for Mets Job After Getting 2nd Interview
By Chris Pyo
New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has prepared a crop of managerial candidates to fill the shoes Mickey Callaway left behind after his firing, and one of the lesser-known names in the group has emerged.
It's being reported that former major leaguer and media personality Eduardo Perez has received a second interview for the Mets' manager vacancy.
Eduardo Pérez will get second interview for #Mets’ managerial opening, sources tell The Athletic. NYM also seeking to interview Carlos Beltrán a second time, per @NYPost_Mets. Next round expected to include at least three candidates. Not known which others are still in play.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 20, 2019
Perez is the youngest son of Hall of Fame infielder Tony Perez, and he played 13 years in the majors as a utility man, hitting .247 with 79 home runs and 294 RBI's.
After his playing career came to an end, Perez worked as an analyst for "Baseball Tonight" on ESPN through 2011. He also managed a couple of seasons in the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball League, and served as the Miami Marlins' hitting coach for a year.
Eduardo Perez is going to get a second interview with the Mets https://t.co/moeIvIYJSX pic.twitter.com/9fVKG4DtXi
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 21, 2019
The other definitive managerial candidate for the Mets is former All-Star Carlos Beltran, whom many fans would love to see back in the Mets' dugout as their manager.
However, Perez would bring a good amount of baseball acumen and knowledge to the clubhouse, regardless of how many Mets fans actually know who he is.
We'll see who the Mets choose to proceed with; whoever it is, they'll have a tough task shouldering the weight of the New York media and Mets fans who are yearning for a 2020 playoff appearance.