New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson will take a leave of absence, effective immediately, to prioritize his health following a recurrence of cancer, club owner Jeff Wilpon announced at a news conference Tuesday.
Alderson, who was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2015, said he's been undergoing treatment since the recurrence was detected in late April, and that his prognosis is good. He expects to undergo surgery later in the summer.
"But in the meantime," Alderson said, "the chemotherapy, the surgery all take their toll.
"I haven't been traveling on the road, as you writers are aware," Alderson continued. "Consistent with treatment, energy levels vary, (and there are) other side effects which makes it difficult to stay up with the pace, the tempo of the everyday."
In the interim, John Ricco, J.P. Ricciardi, and Omar Minaya will share general manager duties.
Alderson, who expressed disappointment over the Mets' season thus far and said he feels "personally responsible" for their 31-45 record, was non-committal when asked if he'd return to his old role following his recovery.
"If I were to look at it on the merits, I’m not sure coming back is warranted," he said.
