After a tough season that ended with the Mets missing the playoffs on the very last day, the team decided to make major changes to its coaching staff. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes won’t be returning next season. The Mets are also parting ways with bench coach John Gibbons and third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh. For Hefner, in particular, the Mets may have found their replacement.

“Emerging as the favorite” for the role is Red Sox director of pitching Justin Willard.

After Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that, Joel Sherman of the New York Post backed the report. As he sees it, Willard is “poised to be named the Mets pitching coach.”

After spending several years with the Minnesota Twins as a pitching coach and coordinator, Willard joined

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