Part 3/12:
While De Podesta's credentials are impressive—having worked successfully with the Mets, Athletics, and other teams—his decade-long absence from active baseball operations raises eyebrows. Experts acknowledge his intelligence and prior success but question whether a ten-year gap hampers his ability to adapt to current game nuances. The decision to replace finalists like Cleveland’s assistant GM Matt Foreman or Arizona’s Am Sard with De Podesta suggests teams are willing to take significant risks on outside-the-box candidates, often ignoring qualified insiders.