Overview
- Atlanta announced Hefner as pitching coach and Richardson as first-base coach in the first major additions under new manager Walt Weiss.
- Jeremy Hefner replaces longtime pitching coach Rick Kranitz, while Antoan Richardson succeeds first-base coach Tom Goodwin; third-base coach Fredi González will not return.
- Across six seasons with New York, Hefner earned praise for individualized pitching plans as Mets staffs ranked among NL leaders in ERA, hits allowed and strikeouts.
- Richardson said he sought to stay with the Mets but negotiations over salary and benefits broke down, adding he later circled back before constraints prevented a matching offer.
- Weiss is under a three-year deal with a fourth-year option as Atlanta retools, while the Mets continue their overhaul with hires including Kai Correa, Jeff Albert and Troy Snitker.