Earlier this year, former Mets minor-league manager Wally Backman accused Mets GM Sandy Alderson of blackballing him after Backman was fired the previous October.
Nevertheless, when it was announced in early-October that the Mets would begin searching for a new manager, Backman contacted Alderson in hopes of being considered a candidate, a source recently told Daily News reporter Kristie Ackert.
However, according to Ackert's source, Alderson was not interested and simply replied to Backman's e-mail with what read like a generic thanks-but-no-thanks response.
During his press conference to announce Mickey Callaway as the team's new manager, Alderson said he and his front office started their search with 35 potential candidates.