Former Mets GM Minaya returns to team

NEW YORK » Omar Minaya is returning to the New York Mets as a special assistant to Sandy Alderson, who replaced him as general manager after the 2010 season.

Minaya was the Mets’ senior assistant GM from September 1997 until February 2002, when he joined the Montreal Expos as major league baseball’s first Hispanic GM. He returned to the Mets as GM after the 2004 season, helped put together a roster that reached Game 7 of the NL Championship Series in 2006, then was fired after consecutive seasons with losing records.

“In sports the way it is today, there are right moments and there are not right moments. This is the right moment I felt to come home,” Minaya said. “I’m from Queens. I still go to Mama’s. I’m still in Corona, Jackson Heights.”

Minaya will work alongside assistant general manager John Ricco — whom he hired for the Mets — and special assistants J.P. Ricciardi and Terry Collins.

“It’s a very versatile role,” Minaya said. “What I love to do is scouting and development. I love international. I love the procurement of young players. I love the draft.”

Minaya was San Diego’s senior vice president of baseball operations from December 2011 until January 2015, and since then has been senior adviser to players’ association head Tony Clark.

Now 59, Minaya worked in scouting for Texas from 1985-87.

Nationals finalize deal with Adams

have finalized a deal with first baseman/ outfielder Matt Adams.

General manager Mike Rizzo on Friday announced Washington agreed to terms with Adams on a one-year contract. The deal to make Adams the Nationals’ new backup first baseman is worth $4 million.

The 29-year-old hit .274 last season with a careerbest 20 home runs and 65 RBIs with the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. He is a career .271 hitter in six major league seasons.

Adams effectively replaces Adam Lind, who became a free agent after the Nationals declined to exercise a 2018 option in his contract. Adams has nine career pinch-hit home runs, and his 41 pinch-hit RBis lead the majors since he came up in 2012.

Japanese reliever Hirano signs with D-Backs

PHOENIX » Japanese righthander Yoshihisa Hirano and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract.

The 33-year-old is looked at by Arizona to provide bullpen depth and possibly compete to be the team’s closer. His deal was announced Friday.

Hirano spent 12 seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Pacific League, including the last eight as a reliever. He was 3-7 with 29 saves and a 2.67 ERA in 58 relief appearances last season and 10-25 with 143 saves and a 2.64 ERA in his last four seasons, striking out 284.

He played for Japan in this year’s World Baseball Classic, going 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six relief appearances.