NEW YORK (AP) — http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-tony-gwynn-jersey , the New York Mets were getting closer to completing a deal with high-profile agent Brodie Van Wagenen, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.The 44-year-old Van Wagenen has been co-head of CAA Baseball since 2010 and emerged as the team’s top choice for GM from a list of 10-12 original candidates. He appears set to switch sides at the bargaining table after representing several Mets stars including Jacob deGrom, Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier.Tampa Bay Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom also was a finalist and remains a possibility, according to the person. An announcement is expected shortly after the World Series — but no sooner than Tuesday.Doug Melvin also had a second interview with ownership this week, but the former Texas and Milwaukee general manager was told he is no longer in the running.With the Mets seeking a replacement for Sandy Alderson, the finalists met during the week with owner Fred Wilpon and his son, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.Alderson was hired as Mets general manager in October 2010 but took a leave of absence in late June after a recurrence of cancer. He said the team’s poor record did not merit him returning.Baseball decisions have since been made by the trio of assistant general manager John Ricco and special assistants Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi, all reporting to the Wilpons.Players and rival agents around the majors have expressed concern about a potential conflict of interest if Van Wagenen flips roles, though the move is not unprecedented. Former big league pitcher Dave Stewart made the switch from agent to front-office executive with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a couple of GMs in the NBA did the same.“In my role as an agent http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-dave-winfield-jersey , my solution is to create opportunities for players to be successful both on and off the field,” Van Wagenen said Monday in a statement released by the Mets after his second interview. “My conversations with the Mets continue to be organic. I believe baseball is better when the Mets are competitive and successful.”Following the team’s second consecutive losing season, Jeff Wilpon has been looking for a progressive thinker from outside the organization to take over as GM. He said he was open to “untraditional candidates,” an approach that has support from his father, and would like to have someone in place by the Nov. 5-8 general managers’ meetings.Jeff Wilpon also said he would like Ricco, Ricciardi and Minaya to return — but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll be retained.“As Jeff and Fred continue their search for a new head of baseball operations, the players, fans and entire organization will be motivated to have a leader with the skills and commitment to win,” Van Wagenen said in his statement. “If the Wilpons believe I am that person, we will have that conversation.”Van Wagenen also represents Mets minor leaguer Tim Tebow Rollie Fingers Jersey , the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback.If he takes the GM job, Van Wagenen would need to give up his career as an agent.Van Wagenen played college baseball at Stanford with current Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch, and the two became good friends. BOSTON — After sweeping three games from one potential postseason opponent, the Boston Red Sox host another when the Houston Astros invade Fenway Park for three games this weekend.David Price, 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break, returns from a one-game absence with a wrist contusion to pitch the series opener for Boston against 13-game winner Gerrit Cole as two teams go at it for the second time this season.From May 31 to June 3, the teams played four games in Houston — the Astros winning the first two before the Red Sox rebounded with two wins.Article continues below ...Now they come in with the Astros having won 12 of their last 15 games and leading the American League West by 3 1/2 games. The Red Sox, who swept three games in their interleague series in Atlanta this week, capped by a wild 9-8 victory Wednesday – are 9 1/2 games ahead in the East.The Red Sox, playing a wacky lineup Wednesday as Mookie Betts http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-randy-jones-jersey , J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts rested, trailed the Braves 7-1, scored six in the eighth, fell behind again and then got a two-run homer from Brandon Phillips — capping his first game with his new team.“We were all in at one point, like here we go,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game. “It was fun. Honestly, that was the most fun I’ve had all season, watching the last few innings.“They could’ve folded and said, ‘you know what let’s go home. It’s been a productive road trip. People are talking about leads and where we are in the standings and all that. So whatever, let’s go home Johnny Manziel Jersey , enjoy the off day and we get Houston on Friday.’ But there was no sense of that. Everybody was pulling for each other. I pinch hit for a lot of guys and nobody was upset.”The win was Boston’s 97th of the season, the seventh time the franchise has won at least 97. They need only nine wins to break the 1912 team record of 105.The Astros just finished a 7-3 homestand with five straight wins, capped by a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins as Alex Bregman continued his torrid hitting. The third baseman has reached base in 33 straight games, four shy of Lance Berkman’s club record.“He’s putting up so many quality at-bats, one after another,” manager AJ Hinch said. “It’s hard to expect it at this level because it’s not as easy as these guys make it look sometimes, but he’s getting great pitches to hit and not missing them, and doing damage.”Price is 14-6 with a 3.60 ERA coming in. Since the break, he has an 0.92 WHIP and has walked seven while striking out 43 in 44 1/3 innings.The left-hander defeated the Astros on June 2 in Houston and is is 6-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 13 games (nine starts) counting postseason against Houston.Bregman is 2-for-5 (.400) against Price, Brian McCann is 11-for-32 (.344) with three home runs and Jose Altuve 8-for-22 (.364). On the flip side http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-wil-myers-jersey , Josh Reddick is 0-for-9, Martin Maldonado 3-for-13 (.231) and George Springer 5-for-21 (.238).Cole is 13-5 with a 2.86 ERA in his first season in Houston. He defeated the Red Sox with a quality start on June 1 and is 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in three career starts against Boston.Phillips is 11-for-25 (.440) with a homer and J.D. Martinez 3-for-9 (.333) against Cole, and Bogaerts is 0-for-8, Ian Kinsler 2-for-22 (.091) and Mitch Moreland 1-for-8 (.125).The Astros didn’t have a starter listed for Saturday’s game, but Charlie Morton (13-3, 3.15 ERA) is expected to come off the disabled list to face Eduardo Rodriguez (12-3).Morton threw a bullpen session Tuesday and was on target to return.“Unless something unforeseen happens, he’s on track to be the starting pitcher,” Hinch said Wednesday.
