Reports: Howe agrees to manage Mets

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Posted 6:55AM on Thursday, October 24, 2002

NEW YORK - Art Howe will be the next manager of the New York Mets, two newspapers reported on their Web sites Wednesday night. One of the papers also said Lou Piniella had agreed in principle to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Howe, who guided the Oakland Athletics to three straight playoff appearances, agreed to a four-year contract worth $9.4 million, according to the New York Daily News. Newsday said Howe and his agent, Alan Nero, met with the Mets in New York on Wednesday and agreed in principle to the deal. ``It's done,'' the Daily News quoted an unidentified source as saying. ``The Mets' people were really impressed with Howe and they obviously proved that by giving him a four-year deal.'' The Daily News said the Athletics permitted Howe to make this deal even though he had a year remaining on his contract, which would have paid him $1.5 million. Newsday also reported that Piniella, who had been pursued by the Mets, has agreed in principle to a $13 million, four-year deal to manage Tampa Bay. The newspaper said highly regarded Oakland bench coach Ken Macha will be promoted to replace Howe, and that he also has agreed in principle to a multiyear contract for almost $1 million a year. The Mets, who fired manager Bobby Valentine on Oct. 1, would not confirm that a deal with Howe has been finalized. ``I can't comment on it at all,'' Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said when reached on his cell phone by The Associated Press on Wednesday night. Athletics spokesman Jim Young said last Saturday that Howe would return to the team next season. Young declined comment when contacted by The AP on Wednesday night. Teams are not permitted to make managerial announcements during the World Series. In addition to Howe, Nero also represents Piniella and Macha. Last April, Oakland exercised its option on Howe for the upcoming season. Since becoming the Athletics' manager for the 1996 season, Howe has never had more than one year of job security, even though he's the third-winningest manager in franchise history. Under Howe, the A's have made three straight playoff appearances, losing in the division series each time. Oakland won the AL West with 103 victories this year, but lost a five-game series to Minnesota. Howe has 12 years of experience as a big league manager, including five with the Houston Astros before joining the A's. Macha has interviewed with several teams about their managerial openings - including the Mets. The Mets had hoped to talk to Piniella but were unable to reach an agreement with the Seattle Mariners on compensation. The Devil Rays, based in Piniella's hometown, did agree to compensation and offered him their managing job Tuesday.