MLB Roundup 11/2: Mets part ways with Zack Scott

Mets part ways with GM Zack Scott

With only two teams playing right now, we are in something of a pre-offseason period, with teams trying to get their ducks in a row before free agency officially opens. And the biggest story hanging over this “pre-offseason” period has been the Mets front office search. The baseball operations situation in New York has been basically a constant mess for a few years now, with multiple changes having had to take place because of off-field transgressions. Zack Scott, a former Red Sox front office employee, was the team’s assistant GM before taking the interim GM job after Jared Porter was let go following sexual harassment allegation. Scott was then placed on leave after a DWI, and on Monday he was officially let go from the organization.

Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, has not had his search go according to plan so far this winter. The organization had some of the biggest names in the industry on their target list, but the last month has just been a series of candidates turning down the opportunity to interview. As such, the Mets have moved on to some younger names and people in lower positions in other organizations. A few times this winter I have mentioned Brian O’Halloran as a potential candidate for open GM jobs, but it seems I chose the wrong member of Boston’s front office. Reports have indicated that Raquel Ferreira is on the Mets short list.

This is certainly deserving for Ferreira if she does indeed land this job. On Monday it was reported that the Red Sox would grant permission for her to interview if she chooses. Ferreira is an assistant GM with the Red Sox and has been in the organization since 1999. Her roles have varied through a whole lot of areas of the organization, and there aren’t many who have a better grasp at what is needed through every level of an organization. She was promoted to vice president of baseball operations, the third woman to hold that position. After Dave Dombrowski was let go, she was part of an interim group running baseball operations (a group of which Scott was also a part), and after Chaim Bloom was hired she was named an assistant GM.

Ferreira would be a tremendous loss for the Red Sox organization, but she’s very much deserving of this opportunity. If she does get the job, she would be the second woman to run a baseball operations department.

Kyle Seager’s option to be declined

We’re a couple of days behind on this one, but news out of Seattle indicates the Mariners’ long-time third baseman Kyle Seager is going to hit the open market. Following a solid 2021, the veteran had a club option for $20 million, and the team informed him over the weekend that it would not be picked up. This past year Seager hit .212/.285/.438 for a 99 wRC+. Entering his age-34 season, he has played his entire career to this point in Seattle.

There isn’t too much of a Red Sox impact on this one, unless the Red Sox plan on moving Rafael Devers from third base. If they were to do that, though, I’d hope it is for a better plan than Seager, who is a fine player but aging and not a difference maker. Instead, he could be a target for a team like Tampa Bay, who could use that veteran presence in the infield. Seager should fit their payroll as well.

Arizona Fall League Update

The Red Sox had just a couple of position players in action on Monday down in Arizona, though both had nice games. Triston Casas got the start at first base, going 1-2 with a single and a pair of walks, scoring a run and driving in a pair. His OPS in Arizona is at a solid .848. Kole Cottam, meanwhile, started behind the plate and went 1-3 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout, also scoring once and driving in two. His OPS is down at .627.