Report: Joe Torre would listen if Mets came calling

You just knew this was coming.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, “a person close to” Joe Torre says the Mets might be the “only team” that could lure the 70-year-old away from retirement.

“The Mets are certainly an inviting situation because they have a lot better personnel than their record shows,” the person close to Torre said. “The injuries have hurt them.”

“Money shouldn’t be a factor for the Mets if they really want [Torre],” the person close to Torre said. “You look at what their attendance figures are, and I’m sure Joe would build some excitement among the fans, which is definitely needed there.”

Just the other day, Jon Heyman of SI.com told us that the Mets see ticket sales as a key issue, so the possibility shouldn’t be discounted entirely. According to Puma, Wally Backman remains the favorite to be the Mets’ next manager, but some question whether he is ready to lead a major league team. One scenario, Puma reports, is that Backman would be groomed for the job as a bench coach to Torre, similar to Don Mattingly in Los Angeles.

Hiring Torre would certainly create some temporary buzz in New York, but he wouldn’t re-invigorate the fanbase like Bobby Valentine would, nor does he have any of that fiery, impassioned spiritedness that many columnists claim the Mets so desperately need. Besides, the Mets aren’t likely to be a contender next season and they will probably balk at his asking price.