NY Sports Day has learned the New York Mets have set their sights on Cardinals Director of Player Development Gary LaRocque as their next general manager.
A high-ranking National League official told NY Sports Day, the Mets have zeroed in on LaRocque, who has ties to the organization, as he worked as Assistant General Manager and Vice President under Omar Minaya from 2004-2008. He also was director of scouting from 1998-2003 in Queens.
According to another National League source, Mets COO Jeff Wipon has made it known that LaRocque is the Mets first choice and is close to offering a contract.
LaRocque, 65, then went Cardinals in 2008 where he first served as Special Assistant to General Manager John Mozeliak and then become Director of Player Development in 2010. He is credited in helping develop the prized Cardinal farm system and writing “The Cardinal Way” handbook for the organization.
The executive was also a minor league field manager in the Dodgers organization back in the 1980s.
Wilpon is reportedly looking for a new general manager that evokes both traditional scouting and new-age analytics. As a veteran in the industry, LaRocque checks those boxes and also falls into the category of someone the Wilpons have a relationship with, so it makes the transition easier.
He will replace Sandy Alderson, who took a leave of absence due to the recurrence of cancer in late June. The Mets have been run by assistants John Ricco, J.P. Ricciardi, and Minaya. The Mets were rumored to look outside the organization.
The source said the Mets are looking to have the new general manager in place before the end of the season with Ricco staying with the organization. No word on the future of Minaya or Ricciardi.