Mets: 5 manager replacements after Steve Cohen fired Luis Rojas

2. George Lombard, Tigers bench coach

George Lombard is the current Detroit Tigers bench coach for manager A.J. Hinch. Lombard is a highly-touted coach who is believed to be a manager in the very near future.

Lombard had previously worked in the Red Sox system before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers as their first base coach in 2016. Lombard was part of Dodgers teams that clinched three berths to the World Series, where the team finally hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy in 2020. And now, he is part of a coaching staff that has helped Detroit drastically improve in 2021.

Last winter, Lombard interviewed for both the Tigers and Red Sox’s vacancies. Back in 2019, Lombard received an interview with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the manager’s gig, and he could very well land his first managerial job in 2021.

If Cohen wants to emulate the Dodgers, then he should hire Lombard.

1. Buck Showalter

If the Mets want to bring in a manager with decades of experience, Buck Showalter may very well be their guy.

Buck Showalter has been the skipper of the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers, but he is perhaps best known for his successful stint with the Baltimore Orioles. Under his watch, the Orioles enjoyed three trips to the postseason, including an appearance in the ALCS in 2014.

You have seen what Showalter did with the likes of Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis in his prime and Nick Markakis throughout his nine year-tenure in Baltimore. Just imagine what he could do with the likes of Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Jacob deGrom.