Mets sign GM Minaya to three-year extension

Oct 2, 2008 - 4:25 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- New York Mets ownership still has plenty of confidence in general manager Omar Minaya.

Minaya, who has seen the team he built collapse in September in each of the last two seasons, signed a three-year contract extension Thursday. The deal, which runs through 2012, includes club options for 2013 and 2014.

After squandering a seven-game lead in the National League East with 17 games to play in 2007, the Mets watched a 3 1/2-game lead in the division with 17 contests left slip away this past season. But despite those shortcomings, Minaya, who had one year remaining on his contract, will continue in his current role.

"While we've made some progress, we still have a lot of work to do," Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said. "Coming up a game short the last two seasons is incredibly frustrating and disappointing. The entire baseball operations staff is evaluating our shortcomings from top to bottom to see what we're missing so that we can get into the postseason in 2009. The contract extension reinforces our confidence in Omar's leadership in the short and longer term."

Minaya, who has brought a Latin-feel to the Mets, acquired two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins last winter. However, Minaya also assembled a bullpen which endured 30 blown saves, a major reason why the Mets finished one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card race and three games back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the East.

"I'd like to thank ownership for this continued opportunity and their trust and confidence in me and our staff to achieve the results our organization and fans want," Minaya said. "In failing to reach our goal of a championship, we're already hard at work in evaluating every aspect of our club to improve it."

One of Minaya's first decisions this offseason will be the status of manager Jerry Manuel. It has been speculated that Manuel, who replaced Willie Randolph on an interim basis on June 16, will return in 2009.

Over four seasons since Minaya became general manager, the Mets have posted a 357-291 record.

Minaya became baseball's first Hispanic general manager in February 2002 while with the Montreal Expos.