Terry

Collins

Both sides have expressed interest in getting a deal done, and it seems like an agreement will be announced within the next few days.

Terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed, but should be announced when the deal is finalized on Monday. The contract also includes a club option for the 2016 season.

Collins was hospitalized Sunday morning in Milwaukee after coming down with an illness and the decision was made to keep him there overnight while the rest of the Mets traveled back to New York ahead of a Tuesday-Thursday three-game set against the visiting Pirates. Collins is expected to return to the dugout for Tuesday’s series opener after getting the all-clear from doctors at Froedtert Hospital. Mets bench coach Dick Scott filled in for Sunday’s loss.

Collins, who turns 68 next May, is the oldest manager in the majors. He plans to wait until after next season before deciding, but he felt worn down during the second half this year due to the demands and traveling associated with the job. “I just need to re-evaluate at the end of this coming year what’s going on, where I am, how I’m feeling,” said Collins. “I’ve always said a lot of it will be dictated by how I’m feeling. This was a tough year.” Collins owns a 481-491 record over six seasons as New York’s skipper. 2017 is the final year of his contract with the Mets.

Collins’ contract is up at the end of the year, which makes it easy for the team to move on. The Mets have obviously been a major disappointment this year following playoff appearances in their previous two seasons. It’s not fair to blame it all on Collins—the Mets have been hampered by injuries all season. But with New York headed for a rebuild, it may make sense to bring in a new voice. Collins has been the Mets’ skipper since 2011.

Long, the Mets’ current hitting coach, was called a potential frontrunner for the job on the same day Terry Collins resigned. Robin Ventura, Chip Hale, Joe McEwing, and Sandy Alomar Jr. are some of the other known candidates.

The timing makes sense with the Astros in town to face the Yankees in the ALCS. Cora reportedly interviewed with the Red Sox over the weekend and is considered the club’s top candidate for the job. White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing is expected to interview with the Mets on Wednesday, though he is also under consideration for the Tigers’ job. Kevin Long, Robin Ventura, Chip Hale, Bob Geren, and Sandy Alomar, Jr. are among the other names who have been linked to the opening with the Mets.

Heyman also says that former White Sox manager Robin Ventura -- who had been considered a likely candidate -- hasn’t shown interest in the gig and isn’t in the mix. Astros bench coach Alex Cora will interview with the Mets on Tuesday and White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing will interview Wednesday. ESPN’s Buster Olney also reports that former Nationals and Indians skipper Manny Acta will interview later this week. To this point, Mets hitting coach Kevin Long is the only one who has interviewed for the job.

It’s not a surprise since he’s the only one who has interviewed so far. The process figures to be fluid, with Astros bench coach Alex Cora, White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing and former Nationals and Indians skipper Manny Acta all interviewing for the job this week. Long has been a hitting coach in the majors since 2007 with the Yankees and then the Mets and had some minor league managerial experience prior to that.

Astros bench coach Alex Cora, White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing and Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway have also interviewed for the gig, but Cora is expected to take the Red Sox’ job and it sounds like McEwing and Callaway are unlikely to be picked by the Mets. Sherman says that the club could make a contract offer to a manager as soon as Friday and want to finalize a deal this weekend.