Former NY Mets coach Jeremy Hefner has a clear landing spot if the team will take him

The New York Mets still haven’t decided on who their next pitching coach will be. Jeremy Hefner was finally let go after manning the role since the 2020 season. Highly reputable, it’ll be a surprise to see him go unhired in 2026 outside of him choosing to sit out a year.

Hefner never got a full opportunity to help develop an onslaught of young pitchers. Many of his seasons with the Mets included projects from Michael Wacha in 2020 through Griffin Canning in 2025.

On Halloween, it was announced Mike Maddux would be leaving the Texas Rangers for the Los Angeles Angels. Is Hefner someone they could potentially look to hire?

Ex-Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner could be bound for Texas

Now led by Skip Schumaker, coaching changes were inevitable for the Rangers. Although both played for and/or coached with some of the same teams, it doesn’t seem as if their paths ever crossed. However, Rangers GM Chris Young was a former teammate of Hefner’s on the Mets in 2012. It’s a mild enough connection for at least an ice breaker in a conversation to have about a job.

Hefner also happens to be an Oklahoma native. The Rangers are the closest big league team to his hometown. Does it matter to Hefner? Now 39, things like that could matter more to him.

The most fascinating dynamic of all if this was to happen is a reunion between Hefner and Jacob deGrom. Hefner arrived after deGrom won his pair of Cy Young Awards. All Hefner ever got to work with him through was the shortened 2020 season, the first half of 2021, and the latter part of 2022. deGrom certainly doesn’t deserve any final say as to who the Rangers would hire for this position. Nevertheless, some insight (good or bad) can be helpful.

More coaches are bound to leave for other opportunities or even receive promotions. Texas is just the latest to become vacant with several boxes checked for both coach and team.

Beyond being a pitching coach stereotype, Hefner's high reputation could have him falling into something more strategic behind the scenes. Helping to develop pitching labs elsewhere could be what helps him stand out more than any other candidate. His ability to survive as long as he did in New York is an unquestionable test of durability and favorability under multiple regimes. We may have never gotten the results we wished to, but that doesn't mean it's time for him to hang up his cleats and hoodie.