A general view of a New York Mets hat. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Mets not hiring Brewers GM Matt Arnold amid conflicting reports

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/27/21

The New York Mets seemingly are no closer to finding a new president of baseball operations than they were several weeks ago.

On Tuesday, multiple reports linked Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold with the Mets less than one full year after the Brewers promoted Arnold from senior vice president and assistant general manager to senior vice president and GM. However, Adam McCalvy of the MLB website tweeted Wednesday Arnold has since "withdrawn his name from consideration" for the Mets:

Per a source with knowledge of the process, the Brewers’ Matt Arnold has withdrawn his name from consideration to be the Mets’ next president of baseball ops. That means Arnold will remain with the Brewers as GM, a role he was promoted to after the 2020 season.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 27, 2021

There may be more to this story, though, as SNY's Andy Martino reports the Brewers denied the Mets permission to speak with Arnold about the opening:

The final line on Matt Arnold and Mets: Brewers did deny permission, Mets wondered if they would reconsider, it dragged out a while, they never talked.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 27, 2021

The Mets were previously said to be interested in Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns, who grew up a fan of the Amazins in New York but still has one guaranteed year left on his contract. Milwaukee reportedly refused the Mets permission to speak with Stearns earlier this month.

Former Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein and Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane also withdrew their names from the Mets' search. Epstein and Mets owner Steve Cohen mutually agreed the job was "not the right opportunity."

San Francisco Giants general manager Scott Harris has also declined a chance to complete a move to the Mets.

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