Minaya Signed Through 2012 With Club Options For 2013/14

[metirish]

] General manager Omar Minaya was given a new contract that runs through 2012, a deal that comes four days after the New York Mets were eliminated from postseason contention in the last game of the season. The contract was announced Thursday and contains club options covering 2013 and 2014. Minaya became general manager in 2004 and was signed to a five-year deal. The Mets made it to Game 7 of the NL championship series in 2006. The next two years they missed out on the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. "We failed this year, and we want to get the redemption that we need and move forward," Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said. "We obviously were not a very good team when Omar came aboard, and he's turned this thing around, and we think he deserves another chance to keep getting us to where we want to be." Minaya understands some fans blame him for the Mets' collapses the past two seasons. "It comes with the territory," he said during a conference call. New York failed to make the playoffs after leading the NL East by seven games with 17 games left in 2007 and by 3 1/2 games with 17 to go this year. Wilpon and Minaya have begun reviewing what went wrong. "What is it that we lack? What is it that we need to get across that finish line?" Minaya said. Wilpon said "there might be some addition by subtraction" on the roster. "We're going to find out why we fell short the last two seasons," he said. "It's up to Omar and his staff to correct that, but we are asking those tough questions." The Mets also are trying to negotiate a new contract for Jerry Manuel, who became interim manager in June when Willie Randolph was fired. "My hope is we're able to get that done," Minaya said. "Right now we're just focusing on Jerry." Minaya said the Mets intend to exercise Carlos Delgado's $12 million option for 2009. After a slow first half, Delgado hit .308 with 27 homers and 80 RBIs in 84 games from June 27 on. Overall, he batted .271 with 38 homers and 115 RBIs.

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[Benjamin Grimm]

I wonder whose subtractions will be additions?

And really, you only improve if, after getting rid of a bad player, you replace him with somebody better. The subtraction itself isn't the whole solution.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm almost as scared as I was when they first named Omar GM. I wonder if I could find that thread in the archives?

[HahnSolo]

We tried addition by subtraction with Mota and Sosa, and that didn't work out.

[soupcan]

]Wilpon and Minaya have begun reviewing what went wrong. "What is it that we lack? What is it that we need to get across that finish line?" Minaya said.

Hmmmmm. Um, a bullpen?

[metirish]

So Jeff gives Omar a nice contract then asks some tough questions.

[Benjamin Grimm]

="soupcan"]Hmmmmm. Um, a bullpen?

Egads! You may be on to something!

I hope Omar is able to figure it out too!

[Guest AG/DC]

Step two is three years to Jerry Manuel.

[metirish]

reports are that negotiations with Manuel have hit a "snag" , Mets offered two years and Manuel has not accepted it yet.

[Guest AG/DC]

Dont' blame him.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Jerry is just using his customary long pause to its greatest effect.

Someone go find me the "Mets Hire Minaya" thread from the old days.

[metsmarathon]

i love jerry, but i think the two year deal is the right move. i'm just not sure if his whole 'gangsta' bit is going to have any staying power, or will a full year of him as a real, and not interim, manager start to get stale in the clubhouse.

2 years is a prudent offer, imo. if he does well, and the team reacts positively next year, you can always extend him at the end of 09.

[Guest AG/DC]

Lazyboy. I think you started the thread with a title like "Omar Minaya?" because the signing took us all by surprise. (Good job, non-leaky Mets!)

Here you are blogging on it: http://www.mbtn.net/september-2004

[Benjamin Grimm]

Our 2004 forum history is quite spotty. Anything from before May or June of 2005 is potentially a victim of the ezCrash.

[metirish]

I agree that two years is fair , and if things work out then great and if not Minaya has two years to fix it again.

[Vic Sage]

Manuel is a former "manager of the Year", who just got a .500 team to play .600 ball. He is no spring chicken, so he'd be a fool not to use whatever leverage he has at this moment and turn it into as long a deal as he can obtain... whether its from the Mets or another team.

I'm ok with him getting a 3-4 year deal. I like him. He's got a sense of humor, is baseball smart, has an aura of relaxed confidence and seems able to relate well to his players... in short, he's got everything that WWSB lacked.

Frankly, i would prefer to see Manuel with the 4-year deal and Omah "ya know whattimean" Minaya with the 2-year deal.

[metirish]

I'm wondering though would Minaya want to give Manuel a contract that will see him through his own contract length.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

AG/DC wrote: Lazyboy. I think you started the thread with a title like "Omar Minaya?" because the signing took us all by surprise. (Good job, non-leaky Mets!) Here you are blogging on it: http://www.mbtn.net/september-2004

Damn, I used to be a good writer!

I've been through pages of old chives at ez board just now but could never arrange them by date. Kenny Bumbaco had young David Wright pegged for stardom.

[Benjamin Grimm]

How long was Willie's initial contract? I think it was three years, wasn't it?

If a novice like Randolph merits three years, then Jerry Manuel certainly does.

I hope they sign him. I hope he stays. And I'd be fine with him getting three years or four.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

="Benjamin Grimm"] ="soupcan"]Hmmmmm. Um, a bullpen? Egads! You may be on to something! I hope Omar is able to figure it out too!

He doesn't seem to have so far...