The New York Mets have hired Buck Showalter as their new manager, signing him to a three-year deal. Mets owner Steve Cohen announced the hire Saturday on Twitter. The move comes as little surprise, as Showalter was the frontrunner for the position for several weeks.
I’m pleased to announce Buck Showalter as the new manager of the New York Mets
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) December 18, 2021
Buck Showalter Hired by Mets
The Showalter hire continues a series of major moves by New York this offseason. The managerial job was in high demand after the addition of free agents Max Scherzer and Starling Marte. The Mets starting over with new GM Billy Eppler likely added more intrigue to the position. It seems fair to speculate that the Mets wanted an experienced manager this time. Their last two hires, Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas, had no prior major-league managing experience and each failed to reach the postseason. With Showalter, the Mets are getting someone with a much deeper resumé.
Showalter is a seasoned vet known for turning teams around quickly once he arrives. Every team he managed went from a losing record to a winning record within his first three seasons at the helm. Between the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Baltimore Orioles, Showalter has five career postseason appearances. Both the Yankees and Diamondbacks won championships shortly after his departure. He did not reach the playoffs with the Texas Rangers, but did improve that team and arguably set the stage for their later postseason success under Ron Washington. Across 20 seasons, Showalter has a career record of 1,551-1,517, a .506 winning percentage.
Mets Relying on Buck’s Experience
Since the departure of Terry Collins, the Mets have underachieved as a team. Eventually, Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas each got enough of the blame to lose their jobs. It’s an open question how much of that blame was deserved, but their lack of experience likely did them no favors. Buck Showalter quickly became the logical choice to be Rojas’ successor, for both his experience and reputation. By inheriting a talented roster, he has a chance to repeat his old pattern of getting quick results.
Showalter seems to have a knack for starting a sea change with teams he manages. They gradually shift from losers to contenders. Given the Mets’ track record the last few years, Showalter appears perfectly suited for the team at this moment. Although his postseason record (9-14) is less than stellar, he’d have an opportunity to improve on it by getting the Mets back to October. Simply doing that would make his hire a short-term success.
Players Mentioned: Buck Showalter, Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mickey Callaway, Luis Rojas, Ron Washington, Terry Collins
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
