Report: Indians' Chernoff top candidate for Mets' president of baseball ops

Cleveland Indians general manager Mike Chernoff is the leading candidate for the vacant president of baseball operations job with the New York Mets, sources told Jon Morosi of MLB.com.

The Mets have recently requested permission to speak with Chernoff and the Indians are reportedly expected to grant it.

Chernoff, 39, has worked in Cleveland's front office since 2003 and was promoted to GM under president of baseball ops Chris Antonetti after the 2015 campaign. Cleveland has reached the postseason in four of the five seasons that Chernoff has been GM, including a trip to the World Series in 2016.

Chernoff has declined opportunities to interview for front-office jobs with other organizations in the past and it remains to be seen if he'll consider jumping ship now.

The Mets' president of baseball ops position opened when Brodie Van Wagenen left the organization alongside four of his front-office associates after billionaire Steve Cohen's purchase of the team was finalized.

New York was reportedly denied permission to speak with Milwaukee Brewers executive David Stearns about the vacancy.

Theo Epstein isn't believed to be a candidate for the position, as he's indicated that he intends to take 2021 off from baseball after stepping down from his post with the Chicago Cubs.