The Yankees announced Thursday that former Mets and Expos general manager Omar Minaya has been hired as a senior advisor to their baseball operations department. It’s the second time this week that the Yanks have added a respected, former GM with scouting roots to their front office in an advisory capacity. Longtime Giants GM Brian Sabean was hired in a similar role on Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Minaya served as the general manager in Montreal from 2002-04 before being hired by the Mets (where he’d previously worked as an assistant GM) as the general manager in Queens. He held that role from 2005-10 before being replaced by Sandy Alderson. Minaya would go on to spend five years as the vice president of baseball operations with the Padres, where he was also part of an interim GM committee in 2014 when the Padres dismissed Josh Byrnes midseason and waited until after the year to tab current president of baseball ops A.J. Preller as his replacement. Minaya served as the Padres’ point person for trade-related matters in the summer of 2014.
Minaya has spent nearly 40 years in baseball operations, holding various scouting and executive roles with the Rangers, Mets, Expos, Padres and in the league’s central office. The YES Network’s Jack Curry, who first reported that the Yankees were set to announce the hiring of Minaya, tweets that the addition of veteran execs like Minaya and Sabean is part of an effort by the Yankees to create more of a balance between traditional scouting wisdom and more modern, data-driven approaches to player evaluation.
All this to beat the Astros?
I doubt it. This guy was the worst thing to happen to the Mets sans the Wilpons. Never thought he would get a senior job again. Sabean I understood but this guy? Yuck!
Yanks are better than the Astros right now, check Fangraphs! This is the off season, teams are trying to get better. Teams will have to deal with new rules like no shifting. What will be interesting to me is how will no shifting effect batting averages. they have gone done 40 points since the year 2000. What make it more interesting amphetamines where tested for in 2006 along with steriod testing. The difference will be the shifting which started in 2012.
Just a minor-league depth signing for cash. With the number of years Cashman has been a starter you never can have too much depth, injuries happen.
One bad paper cut and it could mean months of rehab.
Good mind for any organization to have
Didn’t he fire Bobby V after a series in Anaheim
Omar fired Willie Randolph at 3am when the Mets were in Anaheim
They have some back ups ready for when they eventually fire Cashman….
Lol if they haven’t fired Cashman yet they never will.
Usually if the team you are the GM for makes the postseason every year, you don’t get fired.
I’m confused though. Shouldn’t we have taken these steps a tad bit earlier, like three years ago, two years ago, last year, or at the beginning of the offseason?
I’m confused as to the point in doing this at this juncture when the team is set, bloated contracts are already taken on, and there’s essentially nowhere to go with the team but onto the field to play the games.
If this is for the impending international draft, why not bring them in sooner to facilitate drafting anyway?
I’m certainly not complaining about adding good FO people around Cashman, but it seems like the Yankees are so comfortable with making all these moves (like going over CBT for requisite personnel) too little too late.
Adding talent to the front office at any time is good. One can argue it’s more critical now for the reasons you noted.
Now all they need to do is bring in a new manager.
They haven’t really made any bad moves this off-season though. Now is actually a good time as we prepare for possible trades and waiver pickups during ST.
Yes, as I said, I agree. I like the fact we are hiring good FO personnel. There’s never a bad time to do that. But “better late than never” is not as good as earlier, if you catch my drift.
It’s the same as spending over the CBT. We’ve passed on so many great players that could’ve really put us over the top, just to stay under the LTT, only to realize we have to go over the LTT to acquire the requisite personnel this year anyway, only the team isn’t as good as it could’ve been for the same price tag.
Always doing things too late, which seems to be why we are perpetually behind the Astros. I could be wrong, I hope I am wrong, but I don’t think we’ve gained enough ground on the Astros. They lost JV, we gained Rodon, so pitching is pretty equal. But we needed more offense and they gained on offense (Abreu).
Clipper, I agree with the LTT thoughts and I think we agree Astros player dev seems to surpass Yankees. but we also have to consider from 2012-2015 Astros had 5 top 5 picks (2 & 5) in 2015 cause Aiken didn’t sign. They pulled two over the tops trades Cole & JV of which both benefited from the water down there. so while the Yanks have had 3 top 20s since 2005, they are a victim of success and need to sign FAs. I think the contracts, although happy for the players, are just so ridiculous for Hal to agree to and think he wants to show he doesn’t need to overspend to get a ring. why I don’t know, it is frustrating. I also think he may not want to go over to see teams like the Rays who end up taking money then beating the Yanks in playoffs. long rant that is slightly off topic but yeah.
Clipper,
Timing does seem a bit off. I’m wondering like many of the other bloggers, if there’s more to it. Further wondering if Cashman has told Hal, this is last go around. He’s been the man in charge for quit a while. Perhaps he’s getting tired and wants to spend the rest of his life in a less stressful environment. Curious to get your thoughts along with others. ???
It could be, but he has four years left per contract. I could see if that’s the reason with one or two left, but four? I don’t know, I guess it’s just as plausible as any other theory.
I agree with your clipper, these moves are confusing. Maybe they think it’s cheaper to hire more front office personnel, then to actually get players lol ?
Nothing would surprise me about this team. But whatever it is, I do think it augers well to have some good baseball minds surrounding Cashman, obviously they recognize that Cashman has not been doing the job with a huge payroll for 20 + years.
I wonder if it ultimately means the tension will be moved to a different role in the organization, like further upstairs. I doubt he’s going to be let go by his best bud Steinbrenner. That makes the most sense .
Regardless on the way these movies are coming in hard and fast, we will find out soon enough.
@DR They’ve done this before with Kevin Towers and lower level execs for advisory roles. Kim Ng was under Cashman’s wing for quite a while and had been continuously interviewing for GM openings only to come back after she was passed over. Playing musical chairs.
I understand bleacher creatures. You could very well be correct. In which case nothing will change. But I’m trying to be hopeful that something will change, because something does need to change that’s all.
I expected a senior role following this past season but perhaps there weren’t any GMs they wanted to check out. perhaps Cash has 2 years to get a WS, then they move him upstairs if it happens.
Both these guys are a decade or more older than Cashman. One might even argue that Cashman likes to bring in talent to help, but no one who will be his replacement!
LorD99,
The age point, is an excellent point! But I’m retired and often think about getting back into the workforce. If I got an opportunity like being GM of the Yankees I would be back in a minute. Appreciate your input as always.
Clip, As long as Bobby Valentine stays away from the org., I’m alright with this. Omar is a good talent evaluator but a terrible GM. I actually thought about this when they hired Sabean. It’s never too late for Cashman to have another voice to his ears. He still have to make decisions with regards to leftfield and the fate of Gleyber.
Its all for the fans to show we are making moves. Signing Rodon makes the Yankees completely on par with my Astros. But pitching wasn’t the problem. Expecting the rookies and an old DJ Lemahieu to transform that lineup is crazy. Donaldson looked cooked last year. Left field is a disaster. Theres no table setter for judge. They strike out way too much and rely way too much on hrs.
I agree with you, and I’m a huge Yankees fan. I’ve been complaining about the things that you mentioned for a long time. You’re right on point.
Hey Astro…,
Most of your points are well taken. However, I don’t see LF as ideal but it’s hardly a disaster. Worst case scenario Oswaldo Cabrera man’s it on a regular basis, yes the Yanks would be better if he’s a super utility player. I for one expect their offense to be better with Peraza and Volpe. Obviously, if they got another left handed hitter they’d be better. At any rate, I certainly consider us less talented than your Astros on paper, but the games are not played on paper. Respect your opinions.
You’re right Mickey, the games are not played on paper. But even in real time when we play the Astros we lose, so there’s that. There’s no evidence that that will change.
Unfortunately.
Hires like this have nothing to do with the upcoming season. It’s about getting alternate takes on scouting of all kinds and minor league development.
Hey, good news Yankees peeps. Not sure if you all heard Ian Happ’s assessment of Rafael Ortega going to the Yankees but he thinks it’s going to work out well. He says Ortega is a good clubhouse guy, good teammate, and loves to pull the ball in the air. That will definitely help him in YS as opposed to Wrigley. Perhaps he will win the LF job after all. Sounds positive, and if he can increase in his .753 OPS over the past two seasons, better yet.
A clip at a minimum he can probably be better than Hicks. I’ll take it as a stopgap.
Yeah, he was a victim of the shift also, with between 5-10 hits taken away. Moreover, 7 of his home field hits (in Wrigley) would’ve been HRs in YS, so that would double his HRs from 2022.
Overall, it looks like he could easily slot in over Hicks and outperform him without trying too hard. Plus he’s a lower K guy, so that’s beneficial too.
So, if he were a Yankee in 2022, he would’ve batted closer to .270 w/15 HRs, lower Ks. Not bad compared to Hicks…
All teams change their front offices yearly, some are great moves some are not. The winter is the time to make your team better, and I think Sabean and Omar are great great baseball people to add to the Yanks.
How many GMs does it take to run the Yankees anyway?
Pending a physical. I hear he has carpel tunnel.
He also may have CARPAL tunnel.
He may carpool through a tunnel also.
lincoln or holland?
How many GMs does it take to run the Yankees anyway?
Apparently three. One to sit in the chair and two to spin it around.
I think you’re wrong, I think we actually need even one more lol
They haven’t had a GM since ‘98, they’re making up for lost time.
Trading for Minyana and Sabean, DFA for Cashman?
Yankees finally realizing that they can only get beaten so many times in the playoffs and have such a long WS drought. Let’s get the show on the road and start winning some more championships.
All true and I do think this will help. However, none of these guys are going to help Donaldson hit, or Hicks be able to play at all.
@Yankee Clipper
I know you used some stats on me a while back when I ranted about someone so let’s look at Donaldson’s stats from last year.
His OPS+ was only 6% lower than league average so if he can’t hit, I guess the average hitter in the MLB really can’t hit either.
Hicks has been in the league for 10 years now and last year was the second most games he’s played in his career.
Now I feel dirty attempting to defend these garbage time players.
No, valid points, I’m always for the fact-based position, Old York! I honestly did not realize JD’s WRC+ was only 6% below avg. Just watching him bat makes my eyes hurt. He looked so terribly overmatched for most of the season. (He got hot for a few weeks right before the whole “Jackie” thing as I recall).
I will have to look again at his advanced metrics to see where he is, but if I recall correctly he dropped in several offensive categories on Statcast.
I appreciate you, York. Keeping me in line too….
As far as Hicks, yeah, he was finally healthy and played a large majority of the games, but then made public statements that his lack of playing time hurt his offense…lol. He’s such a knuckle brain.
OldYork, It’s funny.
Donaldson completely falls off the cliff offensively from previous performance, even the year before in Minnesota.
Do we blame Donaldson? No, we blame Cashman.
That’s a good point DogDays. Donaldson is to blame as well. But if it’s age, I’m not sure there’s much Donaldson can do. Cashman, however, could’ve allocated that high price tag on a much younger player. It was yet another acquisition of an over-the-hill player.
His performance isn’t Cashman’s fault, but trading for a post-35 baseball player who costs $25MM is his fault.
It’s still a valid point though, so I agree with you on that.
You’re right about that clipper. But maybe they can help to find new homes for those guys, one can pray. With some creative outside the box thinking and trades, it’s obvious that Cashman can’t do it.
or help the Yanks hit Javier, maybe Volpe and Peraza can hit him!
Lots of teams lose in postseason play. What’s so special about the Yankees?
@Blue Baron
Nothing special. I’m just suggesting they need to win in all again.
@Old York: Why do they need to win more than any other team?
Yes, Jeter spoiled the Yanks with the point that if they didn’t win the world series it was a failure. He had a top player at every position and 3 near Hall of Fame pitchers, and the best closer of all time. It was their pitching that won for those teams.
Who are we hiring next? J.P. Ricardi and Kenny Williams?
No. Neal Huntington.
Ooh, good one.
Is Stick Michael still around?
Ruben Amaro.
Jeter of course!
Coppy and Hart.
I have read and heard that Omar has a good rep in latin american market, I am not sure how this plays out overall but Cashman can’t be happy aobut these decisions or maybe he agreed to it when he signed the extension. Its getting very spicy in the Yankees Front Office!
Cooks.
Kitchen.
Hot mess.
Getting a Bench ready to learn “the Yankee way” with give options to replace Cashman ! Win #28 or sayonara, hasta la vista baby ✔️
First the Yanks bring back Sabean and now hire Minaya? Steinbrenner is collecting old GM’s now? Theo next?
Like the screen name. Blast from the past!
A man who got relentlessly trashed for following ownership’s orders for a franchise that was on the verge of contraction.
You mean the trade for Bartolo Colon while at Montreal? Sour puss Mets fans often tried to use it to question Omar’s competence.
So Yankees are looking to counter the analytics dominance. of the market. Zig a bit while others Zag
@petefrompp, the Yankees are noted for having one of the deepest analytics teams in the game, so maybe this is an acknowledgement that they need to balance it out with more old-school talent evaluators.
Anyone else think these office moves are to beef up scouting and development to hopefully avoid paying out more $300m contracts to stay competative? If so I’m all in, love it
Why not do both? That’s an advantage big-market teams have, and one they should use. Developing talent can also lead to $300MM contracts as we saw with Judge.
Why not indeed. Totally agree. It will be interesting to see what comes of these hirings
Knowing the org’s history, nothing much. Sabean and Omar will be silent publicly and Cashman will get all the credit or scorn.
Welcome aboard, Omar. Hal has to approve the expense to bring in front office talent at this level, but it’s Cashman who wants to bring them in to build out the front office’s expertise.
I believe Hendry is still in the organization.
Minaya got bashed pretty well for his GM work, and deservedly so, imo. But he’s also been pretty solid with the drafts and international signings. I think the Yankees did well with him and Sabean, Pure guess is that Sabean inputs on the US draft while Minaya has a say in the international signings.
It’s the NYY version of Moneyball? Instead of going after the young, energetic 20’s and 30’s Ivy Leaguers that most teams covet, they are looking for older, not-in-demand front office execs (pretty much retired guys who think it might be fun to wheel and deal again and watch some ball for old time’s sake).
Chalk one up for the old scouts who go by their gut, not numbers!
It was the Dodgers that really took this to another level under the new ownership group. The uber market teams that have money to burn are able to spend so much more on operations than the small and mid-market teams. They were hiring a bunch of senior consultants that were former GM’s and such.
Folks mistake this for having too many cooks in the kitchen. What you do is add respected resources that own cumulative wisdom and perspectives and contacts, but it doesn’t mean that it took away decision-making from Friedman…it added resources. This is a way to use the muscle of money without having to pay the luxury surcharge.
Everyone has been out there adding the saberdudes as well, along with the Ivy League hotshots. The business of baseball has evolved, and it is smart to up that part of the game. But the business and analytics guys need to be kept out of the baseball ops leadership role. They are fine as CFO and CIO’s, but baseball is still baseball and requires that perspective when it comes to building teams.
The Yankees are simply starting to add more of that baseball wisdom, at what is probably a cheap price for what they can bring to the plate. If someone such as Minaya deepens the Latin American market ties and they end up with a couple more top prospects as a result over time, he is worth the effort and the cost.
My Phils spent most of the senior advisor roles by using it as a gift for those that were already in the organization for the most part for a long time. The Phillies Way. They are just now starting to expand the network of contacts around the league at a deeper level. Gillick was the first real shot…now DD and they will hopefully start to add more outsider advisors.
Wonder if Cashman should start looking over his shoulder a bit…
Minaya was always a good scout, you need a good mix of analytically driven personnel with old school instincts-based scouts.
Sabean and Minaya.
Cashman better watch his back. Sounds like Steinbrenner is looking for a change.
Now the Astros only need 83 wins to beat the Yankees in the ALCS.
He will hit more than Donaldson and Hicks and catch a ball.
Yankees lose 1-0.
Yankees lose 2-1
Get used to it. This lineup is a joke
If it’s a reaction to the analytics guy, Fishman, talking Cashman into foolish deals like the Gallo trade, I guess it’s a good thing. Why they need both Sabean and Minaya, though, is a bit of a puzzler. The “too many cooks” proverb comes to mind. On the other hand, I’d have more confidence in the front office if Sabean were the GM, perhaps with Minaya as his assistant, and Cashman said his goodbyes.
My vague impression of Minaya is that he put some good Mets teams together, but he was saddled with the meddlesome clown Jeff Wilpon, which might account for some of the worst things that happened in Flushing on Minaya’s watch.
I agree with you pink. Cashman can use all the advice he can get. Obviously he has not been able to put together a championship team in a long time by himself.