NEW YORK -- Popular Mets pitching instructor Frank Viola is leaving the organization after eight seasons, a source confirmed Wednesday evening. Viola had hinted at his intentions in a tweet "wishing the Mets organization well," and thanking "all of the pitchers I've had a chance to work with."
That group includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, all of whom are currently in the Mets' rotation. Despite Viola's work with those arms, the Mets passed him over for their pitching coach vacancy last winter, instead sending Viola from Triple-A Las Vegas to Double-A Binghamton.
A World Series champion and American League Cy Young Award winner with the Twins, Viola has long desired a job on a big league coaching staff. He interviewed for Minnesota's pitching coach gig before the 2015 season, and has been linked to other openings, including the Mets job that went to Dave Eiland.
Viola, 58, played 15 seasons for the Twins, Mets, Red Sox, Reds and Blue Jays, winning 20 games for New York in 1990.