Carlos Beltran will receive the full celebratory treatment in his return to Queens on Monday, when he is introduced as the 22nd manager in Mets history.
For a third straight offseason, the Mets embarked on a managerial or GM search that landed something of a surprise candidate. Two years ago the surprise was when Mickey Callaway, a former Indians pitching coach, was hired to manage the team. Last offseason, agent Brodie Van Wagenen became the surprise new GM. Now it’s a probable Hall of Fame outfielder who departed the organization on shaky terms with owner Fred Wilpon and team COO Jeff Wilpon as the surprise hired to manage the club.