Report: Wally Backman Could Be Option As Marlins Mull Manager's Future
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York Mets fan favorite Wally Backman has been waiting patiently for his shot to manage in the major leagues.
That opportunity could come with the NL East rival Marlins, whose skipper, Mike Redmond, "is on the hot seat" after a 3-10 start, according to the Miami Herald.
Backman -- currently the manager of the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas -- is an option as the Marlins discuss potential successors and whether to move on from Redmond, the Herald reported. New York completed a three-game sweep of Miami on Sunday.
Backman, 55, was a finalist for the Mets' managerial job in 2010, which went to Terry Collins. He was a temporary addition to Collins' staff late last season.
The Marlins haven't contacted Backman or the Mets, according to the New York Daily News.
No way the Mets would block Backman from leaving; F. Wilpon loves him like a son and Alderson would personally drive Backman to the airport.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) April 20, 2015
Backman was fired after four days as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Nov. 2004 when details of legal troubles surfaced. The fiery former big leaguer -- a member of the Mets' 1986 World Series championship team -- has since risen through the ranks of New York's minor league system.
Backman won Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year honors in 2014 after guiding the 51s to the postseason for the second straight year.