THE ODD COUPLE
METS BRING BACK OMA AR TO ASSIST ALDERSON N
Now that Omar Minaya has come back to Queens, here’s a look at some of the hits and misses from his tumultuous six-year tenure as Mets GM from 2004-2010:
HITS
FIRST OFFSEASON: Minaya made an immediate impact on the team after taking the GM job at the end of the 2004 season, signing free agents Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran. The addition of the two stars helped make the Mets a destination. Willie Randolph was named manager.
DELGADO AND WAGNER: The next offseason, the Mets traded for the Marlins’ Carlos Delgado, giving up Mike Jacobs and Yusmeiro Petit. Minaya also signed closer Billy Wagner, and the Mets won the division and reached the NLCS in 2006.
MURPH: Minaya selected Daniel Murphy in the 13th round of the 2006 draft, one of the first examples of his imprint on the 2015 team that made it to the World Series. MORE INTERNATIONAL SIGNINGS: In the summer of 2007, Minaya signed Jeurys Familia and Wilmer Flores.
TRADE FOR SANTANA: One of Minaya’s biggest deals came before the 2008 season, when he landed Johan Santana (above) in a trade from the Twins in exchange for Carlos Gomez and prospects. The following offseason, he signed Francisco Rodriguez.
R.A. DICKEY: The Mets took a chance on the knuckleballer in 2010. Dickey won the NL Cy Young in 2012 and was traded to Toronto for Noah Syndergaard.
FINAL DRAFT: Minaya selected right-handers Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom in the 2010 draft.
MISSES
JJ PUTZ: Just days after signing Rodriguez in December 2008, Minaya traded for Putz from Seattle and the right-hander had a dreadful season in Queens.
RANDOLPH FIRING: Minaya notified Randolph he was being fired in the manager’s hotel room during a series against the Angels in Anaheim. Jerry Manuel replaced Randolph and managed the Mets until both he and Minaya were let go following the 2010 season.
TONY BERNAZARD: In July 2009, the Mets canned VP of Development Tony Bernazard, and in a press conference that afternoon, Minaya accused a reporter of angling for Bernazard’s job.
JASON BAY: Minaya’s biggest flop in free agency came in 2009, when he signed Jason Bay to a four-year, $66 million deal. The outfielder played miserably before being released after the 2012 season.