NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have abandoned their search for a president of baseball operations and will instead focus on hiring a general manager who will report to team president Sandy Alderson.

In the meantime, Alderson told Luis Rojas on Monday he will return for a second season as manager.

“A person who’s able to relate to his players both in terms of their professional work as well as their personal lives,” Alderson said. “I think he’s exceptional in that regard. I think that on the professional side of managing a game, I think that he will be better. We need to make sure that he has all the necessary resources to be better and make good decisions based not only on his own judgment but information that’s available. He’s very open to that.”

Alderson returned to the team Nov. 6 when Steven Cohen completed his $2.42 billion purchase from the Wilpon and Katz families and that day fired general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

Alderson said then he wanted to hire a president of baseball operations but said Monday he had been thwarted in attempts to gain permission to speak with officials on other teams for lateral moves, and another possible candidate had a family issue that prevented a move.

He did not contact Theo Epstein, who quit Friday as the Chicago Cubs' president of baseball operations after leading the Cubs to the 2016 World Series title, their first in 108 years.

“Theo has indicated a desire to take a year off,” Alderson said.

Alderson, who turned 72 on Sunday, said Monday he will have a greater role in baseball operations than originally planned. Alderson initially said he planned to have a seat at the table but not at the head.

“Maybe it will be a round table and I'll be the only one with a chair with arms,” he quipped.

“I hope that we are able to hire someone who will be able to handle most of the traditional general manager role,” Alderson said. “I would expect that I will be a little more involved in decision-making and mentoring. But I don’t expect to get down in the weeds, either.”

Alderson said he had interviewed six GM candidates and will decide whether second and third interviews are needed before presenting one or two candidates to Cohen. He hopes the new GM could grow into a president of baseball operations role.

John Ricco, who shifted from assistant general manager to a senior vice president when Van Wagenen was hired, will be Alderson's “right-hand person” interfacing for Alderson with both the baseball and business departments. He is not a GM candidate.

Alderson was the Mets' general manager from October 2010 until he left in July 2018 following a recurrence of cancer that no longer is a problem.

He said the team had much work ahead after a fourth-place finish at 26-34.

“I don’t think we’re a player away,” he said. “I think we need more than that. Do we have a good foundation? Yes, I think we have an excellent foundation. But I think that our needs are multiple at this point.”

On other topics:

— Robinson Canó. The second baseman's 162-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs relieves the Mets of $24 million in salary next season. Cohen tweeted he would like to “spend it on players” but Alderson said “there’s an additional amount of money to be spent in 2021, which is already earmarked for ‘22 and ’23, so it’s not quite as easy as just an add-on. On the other hand, it does provide us some additional flexibility” financially and in roster space. As for deciding whether to release Canó after the suspension, Alderson said “it’s something that will entertain further down the road.”

— Michael Conforto. The outfielder turns 28 in March and is eligible for free agency after next season. “At some point, I’m sure we will broach that topic and take their temperature and see where things stand, but right now those conversations have not taken place.”

— Tim Tebow. Alderson said the 33-year-old minor league outfielder, a former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, is wanted back for 2021. “This is not a quest without end. At some point it will culminate, but I think that will be at a time when Tim and the organization come to some agreement about where he is, what his potential is. But I didn’t want him to go out based on some COVID-related interruption.”

— Designated hitter. Alderson hopes it is extended to the National League for 2021 after its first use throughout MLB. “The time has come that both leagues play with the same resources, the same options,” he said. “Pitchers can't even bunt anymore. So I’m in favor of putting a hitter in that additional slot.” He said the Mets have internal options and will not seek to add a DH.

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