New York Mets: The return of Omar Minaya
Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is back…as the special assistant to the general manager of the New York Mets.
Back on October 4, 2010, Omar Minaya was fired as the general manager of the New York Mets. He would end up being replaced in that role by Sandy Alderson, the Mets current general manager. On Friday, the past and present collided, as Minaya was brought back to New York as the new special assistant to the general manager.
This is a strange move for a number of reasons. First, Minaya has been brought back to help the very person that replaced him in Alderson. Second, this is not a move that has been well received by the front office, as Mets beat writer Marc Craig noted in a series of tweets. In fact, this is a move that is considered to be entirely the will of Fred Wilpon, despite knowing the reservations of the front office.
Third, this is a move that may well prove contentious in the front office. After all, Minaya had been the general manager before Alderson took over. Even though Alderson was given a contract extension on Wednesday, it would seem as though the team did so against its own wishes. It is difficult to blame Alderson for the Mets strugges in 2017 due to the spate of injuries to their pitching staff, but this move is hardly a vote of confidence.
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In fact, it almost reeks of a move that would have been made by the crosstown New York Yankees during their Bronx Zoo years. Billy Martin was often brought back by George Steinbrenner, despite another manager being in the role. Martin would be a special assistant or advisor of sorts, at least until King George the Wicked got frustrated and pulled the plug. Then, his favorite puppet would be on the bench again, until he inevitably angered Steinbrenner in some way.
Both Minaya and Alderson deserve better than this situation. If the Mets are truly displeased with Alderson, then let him go elsewhere and bring back Minaya. Or, if that is not the case, then let him do his job without the spectre of the former GM hanging over his shoulder, serving in some sort of advisory position that ownership shoehorned him into.
The New York Mets have brought back Omar Minaya. This move could prove to be disastrous for the front office.