While arbitration cases continue to be settled and the final handful of straggling free agents negotiate with potential suitors, here's some notes from a few front offices around the Majors on Thursday …
- Mets owner Fred Wilpon said that he'd like to see former GM Omar Minaya return to the team in an advisory role, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Minaya, of course, was replaced by Sandy Alderson following the 2010 season but remains under contract with the Mets and is owed approximately $1.1MM annually through 2012. Wilpon said Minaya is a good person and would be a welcome re-addition to the organization, but he understands that Minaya has needed time to evaluate his options. Begley speculates that Minaya could return in a talent-evaluation capacity, perhaps internationally.
- Indians GM Chris Antonetti said that he expects to land another player or two this offseason, tweets Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Bastian notes that the Tribe could still use a third baseman and starting pitcher, in particular. Antonetti is in his first year as Indians GM.
- Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said that Toronto is likely done making any major moves this offseason, but minor ones remain possible, according to Shi Davidi of the Candian Press (twitter links). Of course, Anthopoulos added the caveat that this could change with one phone call.
- Padres GM Jed Hoyer, similar to Anthopoulos, said he has a pretty good idea of what his club is going to look like this season, barring any unforeseen injuries, tweets Corey Brock of MLB.com. Hoyer is happy with the Padres' offseason in the wake of the momentous Adrian Gonzalez swap, writes Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and said that the organization targeted free agents who were coming off down seasons in 2010 in the hopes that they might rebound with the Friars in 2011.
hahahah, what a great time to be a Blue Jays fan. This is the most excited I have been since (excluding the world series), I used to listen to them on the radio while camping in Northern Ontario.
Forgive me, but are you serious? I would be happy to trade MLB’s most “toxic” contract. But how can they compete in that division? If you finish not in last place you had a great season.
The truth is we have a new team with a new core and a new manager. With Wells moving out, Bautista becomes the new centre of our batting lineup, the back end of our rotation is new, our relief is completely new and the way in which all of them will be handled is new. I mean, those are a lot of question marks, but it’s certainly going to be a year to watch!
“Of course, Anthopoulos added the caveat that this could change with one phone call.”
LOL I love Alex.
things could change with one phone call? I wonder if that is one call from someone specific. what a tease.
Minaya would make a great advisor. Ask his opinion and then do the opposite.
… Come on, someone had to say it.
He would be perfect as “director of amateur scouting”.. Though it might not be easy to put his pride aside and work under his replacement.
Yeah, he’ll catch on somewhere as a special assistant or advisor. As much as I love making fun of the guy he did make a few good moves and probably wouldn’t rank on my worst GMs list.
Didn’t they say they were interested in improving at 3B tonight?
When Robbie Alomar showed up, someone screamed “Can you play third??”
So the Mets are in the market for a … Tutor? Come to find out nobody hired in the front office speaks spanish.
Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins show up and look over the roster and say:
“How the hell are we going to talk to these guys?”
I got this.
Hello, Sandy? How soon can I start?!
Llámame….or just slip a note in with my next invoice. :p
Minaya was always the “scouting” guy. That was supposed to be his forte, especially in international markets.
Wilpon just hired another MLB Puppet.
First Minaya took over the MLB owned Expos. And he pulled the trigger on the infamous Bartolo Colon, Lee Stevens for Brandon Phillps, Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee trade.
That crippled the Expos and still haunts the Nationals now. Should have used that “scouting eye” then.
Minaya is what he is and he is just another baseball man with who is bilingual. Thats it. Nothing else he is not special.
And who are you to say that? I’m not defending Minaya in any way, shape or form and don’t get me wrong, he’s made some very questionable trades and decisions in his career but saying someone is “not special” when they’ve been in charge of major sports franschises is nonsense. He has to be more special than you to have the opportunity to head multimillion dollar organizations.
for someone who’s so opinionated.. you would think you would atleast have a clue what your talking about…
I’ve actually wanted Omar back as maybe the head scout for the Latin American program. Unlike some people I won’t let what he did as a GM cloud my judgement of what he can bring to the team in another role that he’d flourish in.
Minaya had his chance forget him