New York’s other baseball team announced their choice to replace general manager Sandy Alderson Tuesday. As with most decisions coming out of Queens, it led to much discussion and derision.
Brodie Van Wagenen is now the general manager of the New York Mets and will represent the team at the upcoming general managers’ meeting.
Last week, Van Wagenen was co-head of the baseball division at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). He represented dozens of players, including six current Mets.
While it is not unprecedented to hire an agent to run a team’s front office, this was certainly unexpected. The situation presents some interesting conflicts that will have baseball people from all corners of the league paying attention.
Reactions from around the baseball world reflect the concerns that come with making an outside the box hire.
Players wary of a former agent in GM office
According to Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, players worry about the repercussions of a high-level agent like Van Wagenen switching sides, so to speak.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook,” said Clark, explaining the players’ main concern is whether Van Wagenen will use privileged information against his formers clients to the benefit of the Mets.
Clark himself downplays the matter. He understands the possible advantage, but says he is “confident that the understanding and appreciation for confidential information remains so.”
Players and union representatives will be watching the Mets arbitration case with former Van Wagenen client, Jacob deGrom, very closely.
Fellow player agents not positive
While most player agents agree their unique knowledge about the inner workings of all 30 baseball teams offers unique qualifications, they are not comfortable with agents becoming general managers.
Scott Boras called Michael Kay’s ESPN radio show to offer his opinion on the hire, even before it happened.
He played the loyalty angle, questioning why players would share information that could impact future negotiations if they thought their agent might flip to the management side someday. He also wondered how the hiring team could be sure their general manager’s actions are never tainted toward former clients or even former colleagues.
“For my state of being,” said Boras, “what I want to deliver to my clients, and to the game I love, I want to deliver a fine role and everyone to know it’s not changing.”
Agent Josh Kusnick of Double Diamond Sports agreed. “Fundamentally, I don’t know how you untangle yourself from those conflicts that will arise with players or colleagues you used to work it. I’m not OK with any of it.”
MLB watching closely
League officials have no official position on the Mets’ decision. Privately, officials say they expect Van Wagener to recuse himself from negotiations with his former clients, and other CAA clients, too.
They acknowledge, however, that even if the GM isn’t at the negotiating table, it is impossible to monitor or restrict his input behind the scenes.
CAA represents 12 Mets on the current MLB roster, as well as several minor leaguers.
How Van Wagenen and the rest of the front office handle negotiating conflicts, both real and perceived, will be interesting. But he has at least one important backer.
Co-owner Fred Wilpon released a statement saying in part that Van Wagenen’s “high character, blend of analytics, scouting, and development ideas show why he will be successful.”
Mets owner Fred Wilpon, in a statement, on the hiring of Brodie Van Wagenen:
“Brodie showed us he is a progressive thinker, who is prepared for this role … Brodie’s high character, blend of analytics, scouting and development ideas illustrate why he will be successful.”
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 29, 2018
For now, the Mets GM is saying all the right things about analytics, free agents, and game strategy. Maybe Van Wagenen will leave negotiating contracts to the assistant general manager, John Ricco, and get to work on the other matters at hand.
Leave a Reply