Joe Girardi wanting Mets job 'badly enough' could negate huge concern – New York Post, Nypost.com

Joe Girardi’s résumé speaks loudly, but whether he’s hired to fill the Mets ’managerial vacancy could hinge upon reaching a compromise.

The former Yankees manager is expected to interview with team officials this week, and based on experience and track record aloneshould be the frontrunnerto replace Mickey Callaway. But that is provided general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and Girardi are comfortable enough with each other for a potential marriage to work. Girardi can’t be a puppet, but he also shouldn’t expect to rule the kingdom with the Mets.

A person familiar with the situation says the Mets hold the leverage, even with Girardi in play for managerial openings with the Cubs and Phillies.

“You are reporting to the general manager, here is what it’s going to be, you either want the job or you don’t,” the source said. “And I think Joe wants the job badly enough that it won’t be bothersome and he’s going to figure out how to get along and everything else. I don’t see that being an issue. ”

Girardi isamong the six known candidates for the job, along with Carlos Beltran, Twins bench coach Derek Shelton , Diamondbacks vice president of player development Mike Bell, Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas and ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez. A source indicated two candidates will likely be interviewed Wednesday. One candidate was interviewed Tuesday.

Already, Van Wagenen and his staff have interviewed Beltran, Rojas, Bell and Perez, according to sources. But it’s unclear if anybody beyond the six aforementioned candidates has interviewed.

Of the known candidates, only Girardi possesses major league managing experience.

“If you want to win in the next few years you hire Girardi,” said a baseball official familiar with the team’s managerial search. “Girardi for all his faults is really good as far as organization and running a bullpen and squeezing the best out of a team. You are going to win or at least be in the wild-card hunt. ”

Girardi guided the Yankeesto their last World Series titlein 2009, but wasn’t retained after the team’s loss in Game 7 of the ALCS to the Astros two years ago. At the time of his departure from The Bronx a disconnect with the front office was cited. Girardi was fired in 2006 following only one season as Marlins manager, after clashing with the team’s owner, Jeffrey Loria.

The Mets front office under Van Wagenen has a strong hand in formulating the daily lineup and deciding on roles for players, according to sources. For Girardi it could be a different world.

“If you are going to fire [Callaway], you have got to be thinking Girardi,” the second baseball official said. “You have got to be thinking that kind of guy.”