Cardinals general manager Michael Girsch has elected to stay in St. Louis. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cardinals GM Michael Girsch also turned Mets down

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/27/21

One thing seemingly certain in the MLB world as the beginning of November approaches is that plenty of capable individuals are happy not working for the New York Mets this fall.

Derrick S. Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the Mets reached out to the St. Louis Cardinals last week about speaking with St. Louis vice president and general manager Michael Girsch about New York's president of baseball operations opening. There was just one problem for the Amazins: Girsch wasn't interested:

#Mets reached out to #Cardinals late last week for permission to talk to GM Michael Girsch about the opening to run baseball ops in Queens, according two sources. He elected to stay with the Cardinals, a team source confirmed.
— Derrick S. Goold (@dgoold) October 27, 2021

This follows updates from earlier in the day that confirmed Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold will not be joining the Mets. Adam McCalvy of the MLB website reported Arnold withdrew his name from consideration, but SNY's Andy Martino later tweeted the Brewers wouldn't grant the Mets permission to speak with Arnold.

Milwaukee previously denied the Mets permission to speak with Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns.

Former Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein, Oakland Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane and San Francisco Giants general manager Scott Harris all also removed themselves from New York's search. Epstein and Mets owner Steve Cohen reportedly agreed this was "not the right opportunity" for either party, and Anthony DiComo of the league's website notes Cohen "is performing much of the search himself" throughout this process.

Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who joined the Mets' board of directors ahead of the 2021 season, is one individual advising Cohen:

An update on the Mets' front office search and how Steve Cohen is leading the process, with this amusing nugget, regarding Chris Christie's involvement, included within: https://t.co/dbnDMHXSZs pic.twitter.com/I2NQOrND8q
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) October 27, 2021