GaryMrMets
11-20-2004, 06:06 PM
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmets1118,0,3018276.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines
Mookie could make Shea return
BY DAVID LENNON
STAFF WRITER
November 18, 2004
With the Mets on the verge of welcoming back Kris Benson, who should be signed by today or tomorrow, their next order of business this week is filling out Willie Randolph's coaching staff, and it appears that Mookie Wilson is likely headed for a homecoming at Shea Stadium.
Wilson, 50, served as the first-base/outfield coach on the Mets for five years before he was bounced from the major-league staff with Art Howe's arrival following the 2002 season. Since then, Wilson has been the manager of Class-A Kingsport, but now the Mets are interested in bringing back the '86 icon to his former role. Wilson was interviewed yesterday, along with bench coach candidate Sandy Alomar Sr.
The Mets plan to make the coaching decisions by the weekend, but they will have to wait for the Yankees' Rick Down, who remains their top choice for hitting coach. Randolph annoyed the Yankees last week by meeting with Down in Tampa without George Steinbrenner's permission, and it now seems that the Mets will simply wait for Down's contract to expire on Dec. 31 before wrapping up the hiring process.
As for Benson, who will receive a three-year contract worth roughly $23 million, he was confident enough in his negotiations that he granted an interview to WFAN yesterday morning. Benson lobbied for Al Leiter's return, but the Mets haven't pushed too hard to get a deal done after their improved offer last weekend. The Mets offered $4 million, with another $2 million in easily attainable incentives. But with the possibility of getting the Yankees involved, Leiter's camp apparently is in the market for more.
Mookie could make Shea return
BY DAVID LENNON
STAFF WRITER
November 18, 2004
With the Mets on the verge of welcoming back Kris Benson, who should be signed by today or tomorrow, their next order of business this week is filling out Willie Randolph's coaching staff, and it appears that Mookie Wilson is likely headed for a homecoming at Shea Stadium.
Wilson, 50, served as the first-base/outfield coach on the Mets for five years before he was bounced from the major-league staff with Art Howe's arrival following the 2002 season. Since then, Wilson has been the manager of Class-A Kingsport, but now the Mets are interested in bringing back the '86 icon to his former role. Wilson was interviewed yesterday, along with bench coach candidate Sandy Alomar Sr.
The Mets plan to make the coaching decisions by the weekend, but they will have to wait for the Yankees' Rick Down, who remains their top choice for hitting coach. Randolph annoyed the Yankees last week by meeting with Down in Tampa without George Steinbrenner's permission, and it now seems that the Mets will simply wait for Down's contract to expire on Dec. 31 before wrapping up the hiring process.
As for Benson, who will receive a three-year contract worth roughly $23 million, he was confident enough in his negotiations that he granted an interview to WFAN yesterday morning. Benson lobbied for Al Leiter's return, but the Mets haven't pushed too hard to get a deal done after their improved offer last weekend. The Mets offered $4 million, with another $2 million in easily attainable incentives. But with the possibility of getting the Yankees involved, Leiter's camp apparently is in the market for more.