New York Mets Rumors: Carlos Beltran Chooses Bench Coach, Team Linked To Starling Marte Trade

The New York Mets hired their new manager in Carlos Beltran after the 2019 postseason. Now, Beltran has reportedly found the perfect candidate to serve as his bench coach. That man is former New York Yankee Hensley Meulens.

Known during his playing days as Bam-Bam due to his fierce line drives which would rattle the outfield walls, Meulens has spent the last decade with the San Francisco Giants organization. The first eight saw him serve as a hitting coach but the last two he has been Bruce Bochy’s bench coach.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Mets have decided to hire Hensley Meulens, who is Beltran’s first choice. The two spent one season together in San Francisco in 2011 with Meulens the hitting coach and Beltran still a player.

The two will be joined in the dugout next season by another name familiar to the New York sports scene, Chili Davis. The former outfielder will serve as Carlos Beltran’s hitting coach and will hope to help the young crop of Met hitters to contend in 2020.

Heyman has also reported that the Mets are interested in trading for Pittsburgh Pirates center-fielder Starling Marte. The Bucs exercised their club option to retain the player but as the team will not compete in the NL Central in 2020, Marte is a likely trade candidate.

Meanwhile, New York has a definite gap in center field. Brandon Nimmo starred in the position in 2018 but this past season saw a regression due to missed time caused by an injury. Juan Lagares was equally disappointing, hitting just a .213 on the season and striking out in 26.3 percent of his at bats.

Marte, meanwhile, would be an instant upgrade. He posted a .295 batting average and a .342 on base percentage while slugging 23 home runs and swiping 25 bags. The Mets do have outfield depth and may have to part with some of it to get Marte.

J.D. Davis is one such candidate. He owned a .307 batting average and a .369 on base percentage on his way to 22 big flies in 2019 making him one of the Mets’ premier bats in 2019. Due to his skill, New York would ideally like to retain the player.

A better option for the club would be Dominic Smith. The 24-year-old slugged 11 home runs in just 89 games this season plus is only 24 years old. He may have a bright future but the Mets could compete in 2020 so they would be willing to trade at least some future talent for present playing ability.