Mets GM Sandy Alderson taking leave of absence to battle recurrence of cancer
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon announced Tuesday that general manager Sandy Alderson is taking a leave of absence from the team, effective immediately, to focus on a personal health issue.
Sandy Alderson will take an immediate leave of absence from the Mets to prioritize his health, Jeff Wilpon announces.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) June 26, 2018
It was later revealed that Alderson is battling a recurrence of cancer, and is currently undergoing treatment with plans to have surgery later in the year. He was first diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in 2015, and was said to be in full recovery.
In his absence, assistants John Ricco, JP Ricciardi and Omar Minaya will work together to run baseball operations. This will be Minaya’s second stint in the GM position – he previously held the position for six years and was fired in October 2010, along with then-manager Jerry Manuel. He was brought back on board as a special assistant to the GM in December 2017.
Alderson’s team is currently sitting at 31-45, the second-worst record in the NL, and has dropped the past seven straight.
While, of course, Alderson should remain focused on his health issues, reporters were quick to ask him whether he intends to return to the team when he is recovered. Alderson acknowledged the team’s current state in his response:
Alderson asked about whether he’ll come back to the same role mentions his uncertain health and adds, “If I were to look at it on the merits, I’m not sure coming back is warranted.”
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) June 26, 2018
He added that he has confidence in the interim replacements:
"I feel badly that we've had the season that we've had to date. I feel personally responsible for the results we've had," Sandy Alderson says. He adds that Ricco, Ricciardi and Minaya will take a "hard" and "fresh" look at the team and where to go from here.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 26, 2018
Wilpon would not comment on Alderson’s possible return, rightly stating that his health is all that matters right now.
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