Mets GM Sandy Alderson diagnosed with cancer

New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has been diagnosed with a "treatable form of cancer" and faces eight to 12 weeks of chemotherapy, the team announced Friday.

Alderson, 68, is entering his sixth offseason as the Mets' GM after constructing, under relatively significant payroll limitations, a team that won the 2015 National League pennant. Alderson suffered a fainting spell during a Nov. 4 news conference, days after the Mets' five-game defeat in the World Series.

The Mets' announcement comes as the industry prepares to descend on Nashville for the annual winter meetings. Alderson will not attend the meetings, but the club said his role with the franchise will continue, though at times on a limited basis.

Alderson's methodical rebuilding of the Mets accelerated this summer, when deadline acquisitiosn of slugger Yoenis Cespedes and others kick-started the club's stretch run, during which they passed the Washington Nationals to win the National League East. They advanced to the World Series for the first time since 2000.

The team has two former GMs in its front office, in special assistant J.P. Ricciardi (Blue Jays) and assistant general manager Paul DePodesta (Dodgers).