NEW YORK — Looking for a fresh voice to shepherd their prized arms, the Mets found it in new manager Mickey Callaway.

New York agreed to a three-year contract Sunday with the Cleveland Indians pitching coach, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

A news conference to introduce Callaway as Terry Collins’ replacement is expected within the next few days.

With his contract set to expire, Collins stepped down at the end of the season after seven years as Mets manager and accepted a position as a special assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson.

The 42-year-old Callaway, who has never managed at any professional level, has done an excellent job as Cleveland’s pitching coach for the past five seasons under highly successful skipper Terry Francona. Led by ace Corey Kluber, the Indians led the major leagues with a 3.30 ERA and 1,614 strikeouts this season – one year after reaching the World Series and losing to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.

This season, Cleveland won an AL-best 102 games and its second consecutive AL Central title.

Advertisement

Other candidates for the job were Mets hitting coach Kevin Long, Mariners third base coach Manny Acta and White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing. The team also interviewed Houston bench coach Alex Cora, according to reports. Cora was hired Sunday as manager of the Boston Red Sox.

JOSE FERNANDEZ never pitched in a playoff game for the Miami Marlins. But his presence was felt in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday between the Astros and Yankees.

Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he drew inspiration from Fernandez before recording the final out to send the Astros to the World Series.

Just before facing Greg Bird with two outs in the ninth, McCullers told The New York Times that he paused briefly to think about Fernandez, who was his friend and offseason workout partner.

“I said, ‘Hey, show what you got, because Jose would,'” McCullers said. “Dead serious. Stepped off the mound, looked down. You know, people you loved from your past, they’re never off your mind. They’re always there, in the back of it.”

McCullers then retired Bird on a fly ball to preserve the Astros’ 4-0 win over the Yankees.

Advertisement

McCullers had known Fernandez from their high school days in Tampa, and the two remained friends after reaching the Majors. After Fernandez was killed in a boating accident in 2016, McCullers’ thoughts remained with the friend and pitcher he admired, even to the point of wearing custom-designed cleats bearing a photo image of Fernandez.

DODGERS SHORTSTOP Corey Seager is likely to be back in the Los Angeles lineup when the World Series begins.

The All-Star didn’t play in the NL Championship Series because of a back injury.

But Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that the team was “very confident” Seager was ready to return. Depending on how Seager is feeling, he could be the designated hitter for the Dodgers when the Series shifts to Houston for Game 3.

Seager hit .295 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI this season.

Roberts also announced that left-hander Rich Hill will start against Houston’s Justin Verlander in Game 2 of the World Series. Hill went 12-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts this season.

Right-hander Yu Darvish, acquired in a deadline deal from Texas, will pitch Game 3.

Copy the Story Link

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.