Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

A week into the Mets' process of interviewing for Sandy Alderson's replacement as the head of baseball operations, there truly seems to be no frontrunner. The Mets are considering candidates with backgrounds as disparate as Gary LaRocque and Chaim Bloom, and are still weighing which direction to go.

You can find people in the organization advocating for a more traditional approach, and those who are more enthusiastic about analytics. Others are moderates on this issue. Therefore, the only credible answer to the question of what the team is going to do is "not sure yet, because they're not, either."

Having said that, here are some fresh facts that we can report:

• The first round of interviews is expected to stretch into this week. It's not over yet. The team is holding its remaining targets close, but keep your eye on agent Brodie Van Wagenen as someone who could still become a factor.

• Once the second round begins, assistant GM John Ricco will no longer be involved. Ricco has been sitting in the first round of interviews, alongside COO Jeff Wilpon. Whether or not Ricco remains with the organization long-term is an open question. As the process becomes more serious, Fred Wilpon and Omar Minaya will also have more of a presence, Wilpon in particular.

• There is a real possibility that Terry Collins will either run player development or have a strong influence in that area -- but that is on hold until it's clear who the new boss will be. Collins' role will depend in part on that.

• Milwaukee Brewers GM David Stearns continues to be a non-factor in this search, despite speculation connecting him to a franchise that once employed him.

• It is not yet clear what the structure of the new front office will be. Mets people push back on the notion that responsibilities will be divided between the major league roster and player development, saying that one person will be in charge of all baseball matters. Whether that person is a GM, president of baseball ops, executive vice president, Archbishop of Ballgames or some other title will depend on the person and his/her negotiation with the team.

If the Mets name a president or EVP, it's no guarantee that they will also appoint a GM. But also, they might. You catch our drift here? This could still go a number of different ways.

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