On Thursday, the parted ways with manager Carlos Beltran. The 42-year-old, who was hired over the offseason and hadn't yet overseen so much as a scrimmage, is the third manager to lose his job in the fallout of the ' sign-stealing scandal, joining A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora ( ). Major League Baseball opted against punishing the players involved in the scheme, so Beltran will face no further discipline for Starlin Castro Jersey his role or contributions.The Mets, meanwhile, will now have to appoint a manager for the second time since dismi sing Mickey Callaway after two so-so seasons. Unlike with the Astros and Red Sox, we have a feel for who the Mets might pursue based on their previous search this offseason.Let us then hit on five candidates who figure to be in play.1. Eduardo Perez, ESPN analystPerez was believed to be one of the finalists for the job, . He's never managed at the big-league level, but he has managed in winter ball and as part of the World Baseball JT Riddle Jersey Cla sic. Additionally, he's served as the bench coach for the Astros for a season, and as a hitting coach for the . 2. Hensley Meulens, Mets bench coachIf the Mets want to keep things as simple as po sible, they could hand the reins to Meulens, their bench coach and a legitimate managerial candidate. He nearly landed the gig over Aaron Boone, and gained a good deal of experience in other roles throughout his time under Bruce Bochy with the .3. Luis Rojas, Andre Dawson Jersey Mets quality control coachRojas, whose father is former big-league skipper Felipe Alou, has managed in the minors throughout the Mets system. He's on the younger side for a big-league manager (he turned 38 last September), but that seems to be le s of an i sue these days than, say, a decade ago. Rojas, too, Jose Urena Jersey would represent the Mets taking the path of least resistance.4. Pat Murphy, bench coachMurphy was not believed to be one of the finalists for the Mets' opening over the winter, with now-Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton instead filling out the triumvirate alongside Beltran and Perez. It's po sible the Mets reconsider their stance on him, Nick Wittgren Jersey but our gue s is that it's not likely he lands the job. 5. Tim Bogar, first base coachLike Murphy, Bogar was reportedly eliminated from consideration before the finalist round. Maybe the Mets have experienced a change of heart, or would try to add him on as a bench coach if they promote Meulens. Otherwise, Bogar seems likely to remain in place.

Last week, it was reported Major League Baseball's 2020 draft would begin June 10, . While that's a departure from the norm (and not in a good way), we here at CBS Sports will be providing coverage up through the draft.That proce s begins today, with a ranking of the top 25 position players in the cla s. On Wednesday, we'll rank the top 25 pitchers; on Friday, the top 50 prospects in this cla s.Before we get to the rankings, we're legally obligated to offer a few caveats: 1) these Ariel Jurado Jersey were formed through a combination of insight gleaned from scouts and executives, as well our own analysis of the players; and 2) these are not supposed to align with the actual draft order; their expected draft range was a consideration, however, along with their talent level and overall potential.With that in mind, let's rank some position prospects.1. Austin Martin, CF/INF, VanderbiltMartin, a top-of-the-order hitter and versatile defender, might be the most intriguing player in the cla s. He has an impre sive feel for contact and for the strike zone, finishing his Commodores career with a .368 batting average and more walks than strikeouts. (He was the toughest batter to strike out in the power conferences.) Though he homered just 14 times, his exit velocities suggest there's plus power potential under the surface, something he could achieve thanks to his offensive aptitude and a swing that already features loft. In short, Martin fits the profile of others who have added power to their games in recent years. He's also a skilled baserunner with good speed and smarts. Generally, having an undefined position is a negative. In Martin's case, it could turn out to be a positive. He was primarily a third baseman before this season, when he slid to center field to better leverage his wheels. A creative team could maximize his value by having him split time between the infield and the outfield, a la Whit Merrifield and Scott Kingery, among others. 2. Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona StateYou'd think Torkelson was a Joe Hill creation given the fear he invokes in opposing pitchers. He walked in 31 of his 82 plate appearances during the abbreviated NCAA season, but he still managed to improve his career homer count to 54 in 498 at-bats. Torkelson has the requisite eye, strength, and barrel control to profile as a quick Ryan Rua Jersey -moving thumper. The biggest knock on him is that he's a right-handed first baseman, and those seldom make for satisfying early selections -- it's basically a sample of of Andrew Vaughn, the third pick in last year's draft. Don't be surprised when Torkelson ends up going higher than Vaughn, perhaps even first.3. Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek (HS)With due respect to the fine people at the University of Florida, there's little chance Veen will be cro sing paths with the Tom Petty tree anytime soon. Instead, he's likely to be popped early enough to justify beginning his pro career. Veen has the tall, lean, broad-shouldered frame that bodes well for him adding muscle over the coming years (and for drawing comparisons to Jayson Werth). He also has more than enough bat speed and discretion at the plate to project as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. Veen's odds of remaining in the middle of the outfield are considerably more remote, but his strong arm should make him a fit in right field.4. Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico StateIf one of the top-ranked hitters is going to slide on draft day, then it's probably going to be Gonzales. Despite incinerating the Western Athletic Conference (.448/.610/1.155 slash line with 12 home runs and 11 more walks than strikeouts in 16 games) and last summer's Cape Cod League (.351/.451/. Alex Claudio Jersey 630), there are nagging concerns about his upside. His exit velocities were more pedestrian than one might suspect, leading some evaluators to believe his power potential (and the validity of comparisons to Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura) is overstated. A data-driven team might find it hard to justify popping Gonzales so early, lest they end up with a singles-hitting second baseman who isn't a threat to run or win a Gold Glove. 5. Austin Hendrick, OF, West Allegheny (HS)The most notable baseball alum from West Allegheny High School is Scott Patterson, who played Luke on Gilmore Girls. Hendrick Asdrubal Cabrera Jersey could usurp Patterson if he someday lands the role of cleanup hitter. His explosive swing lends itself to an approach that sees him trade contact for power. Hendrick scorched good competition last summer, posting absurd exit velocities along the way, and that performance ought to protect him against the typical cold-weather state bias. Not every team has the stomach for his swing-and-mi s tendencies, and it's easy to envision him becoming a left-handed Clint Frazier, but that isn't the worst outcome by any means.6. Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLAMitchell is one of the fastest runners in the cla s, and he should have no problem remaining in center for the long haul. (He played right in 2019 out of deference to former first-round pick Matt McLain, who moved to shortstop this season.) The other elements of his game are le s certain. Mitchell has the kind of athleticism and angular frame that scouts dream about, and he puts on a better BP than his in-game power numbers indicate (his .151 career ISO is propped up by 15 triples, as compared to six home runs). He's already reconfigured his swing once since high school, and a team hoping to help him unlock his star potential could task him with trying it again. Mitchell, a Type 1 diabetic, should serve as a positive role model regardle s. WARNING: Garrett Mitchell is dangerous.The sophomore records an RBI-triple for the Bruins' second run of the game.Watch live on Pac- Rougned Odor Jersey 12 Now. Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) 7. Patrick Bailey, C, NC StateA collegiate catcher has been selected either first (Adley Rutschman in 2019) or second overall (Joey Bart, 2018) in the last two drafts. That won't happen this year, but Bailey should come off the board early thanks to his high floor and the evergreen demand for catchers. He's more than adequate at the defensive tasks that matter most -- receiving and throwing -- and he has ample game-calling experience. Scouts are le s bullish on his bat. While he's skilled at working deep counts and punishing mistakes with his above-average raw power, he's a candidate to finish with a below-average hit tool due in part to his tendency to whiff. (He struck out in nearly a quarter of his plate appearances this season in 17 games.) Bailey's boosters believe he'll have four average or better tools, and that'll be enough for him to go in the top half of round one, even if others think he'll fall on the spectrum between second-division starter and backup 8. Heston Kjerstad, OF, ArkansasHeston won't be the first Kjerstad to play pro ball: his brother Dexter spent a number of seasons as part of the Kansas City Royals and Miami Marlins organizations. He does have a chance to become the first one in his family

In the ninth inning of Tuesday's game between the and , Yankees closer . The 101-mph fastball mi sed making contact with the Brou seau's helmet. Chapman went on to strike Brou seau out Glen Perkins Jersey to end the game, but afterwards some stare downs and bad words were exchanged before benches and bullpens cleared. It did not lead to a fight, though.Following the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash had some interesting comments regarding the situation."It's absolutely ridiculous," Cash said. "It was mishandled by the Yankees. Harmon Killebrew Jersey Certainly the pitcher on the mound. It was mishandled by the umpires. Somebody has to be accountable. The last thing I'll say on it is I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph. Period."During Wednesday's installment of "Nothing Personal with David Samson," Samson weighed in on Cash's comments and believes that they're grounds for suspension. "That's called a threat. That's called a suspension for Kevin Josh Donaldson Jersey Cash," Samson said. "It's a guarantee that Major League Baseball will suspend Kevin Cash for those comments. They're trying to protect the health and Mitch Garver Jersey safety of players. What Aroldis Champman did is unacceptable. He's going to get suspended. But Cash impugned Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman, the Steinbrenner family, every player on the Yankees. It was incredible. I haven't heard a sound byte like that in so long where a manager goes after a team in that way."The drama began long before Chapman was in the game. Rays second baseman was plunked in the back by a pitch from in the first inning. Samson made the point that Chapman deserves to be suspended for throwing at Brou seau. However, he also believes Willians Astudillo Jersey that Cash shouldn't have reacted in that way and basically threaten to retaliate.