NEW YORK -- J.P. Ricciardi is leaving the New York Mets after eight seasons.
The Mets announced his decision Friday, a day after the end of the annual general managers' meetings and 11 days after hiring Brodie Van Wagenen to succeed Sandy Alderson as general manager.
Ricciardi was hired as a special assistant to Alderson in November 2010 and had been part of the trio running the team's baseball operations after Alderson took a leave in July following a recurrence of cancer.
"The Mets are grateful for all J.P. has brought to the team over the last eight seasons and we wish him all the best going forward," Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said in a statement.