NEW YORK -- The Mets began the process of beefing up their analytics department with a significant front-office move on Tuesday, hiring Adam Guttridge to the newly created position of "assistant general manager of systematic development," according to a source. Guttridge will be responsible for advanced analytics modeling across the organization.
For the past two years, Guttridge has worked as an independent consultant for Major League teams. He previously worked for the Brewers and consulted for the Rockies, has spoken at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and has taught at New York University, among other endeavors.
With the Mets, Guttridge takes over an analytics department that ranks among MLB's smallest. According to a study by The Athletic, the team's three-man analytics staff clocked in at less than one-sixth the size of the Yankees' and Dodgers' departments in 2018. After the season, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon indicated that the Mets planned to add more positions in their analytics department.
Guttridge is the first to sign on but perhaps not the last. The Mets' front office is in a state of flux under new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, who said at his introductory news conference that he intends to have "multiple" assistant GMs report to him. Currently, the Mets employ both Guttridge and John Ricco, who has been the club's assistant GM since 2006. Mets officials have consistently deflected questions about Ricco's future, saying that he remains an employee for now.
Two other executives have already made their decisions. Omar Minaya has agreed to stay on as a special assistant to Van Wagenen, while J.P. Ricciardi has moved on to pursue other opportunities.