NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- In order to fill the void left by bench coach Bob Geren's defection to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets intend to hire from within for the vacancy on the coaching staff.
It is unclear who on the staff will assume the bench coach role, but the Mets likely will add someone to the coaching staff with catching experience to offset the loss of Geren, who worked with Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki.
The candidates for a promotion to the major league staff include pitching rehab coordinator Jon Debus, minor-league catching coordinator Bob Natal, Dominican-based catching instructor Alberto Castillo and Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez.