Omar Minaya

(upload a new image)

Full Name: Omar Teodoro Antonio Minaya y Sanchez

Birthdate: November 10, 1958

Birthplace: Dominican Republic

Rate This Person

3.23

(57 votes)

1 Biography
2 Notable Transactions
- 2.1 As GM of the Expos
- 2.2 As GM of the Mets
3 Video Gallery
4 Picture Gallery
5 Trivia
6 See Also
7 Categories

[edit] Biography

Omar Minaya is the general manager of the New York Mets. He is the first Hispanic to hold a general manager position in Major League Baseball.

Born in Dominican Republic, he moved to Elmhurst, in Queens, New York City at the age of eight. A star baseball player at Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Minaya had a short-lived career in the minor leagues as well as stints in leagues in both the Dominican Republic and Italy. After injuries ended his playing career, Minaya joined the Texas Rangers' scouting team in 1985, where he helped in the signing of players such as Sammy Sosa and Juan Gonzalez.

In the mid-1990s, Minaya left Texas and returned home to join the staff of the New York Mets, working his way to Assistant General Manager behind Steve Phillips and being partly responsible for that team's late-1990s success. Minaya would leave the Mets in early 2002 when he joined the Montreal Expos as General Manager.

Before the 2005 season, the Mets hired him as the General Manager, paying him an estimated $4 million over a five year contract. His full title is "Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager".

[edit] Notable Transactions

[edit] As GM of the Expos

March 23, 2002: Traded pitcher Guillermo Mota for outfielder Matt Herges.
March 25, 2002: Traded outfield Jason Bay and Jim Serrano to the New York Mets for infielder Lou Collier
April 5, 2002: Traded pitcher Scott Strickland and others to the New York Mets for pitcher Bruce Chen and others.
May11, 2002: Signed outfielder Wil Cordero as a free agent. Cordero would re-up with the Expos on December 7, 2002.
July 11, 2002: Traded pitchers Carl Pavano, Graeme Lloyd, infielder Mike Mordecai, and minor leaguers Justin Wayne and Donald Levinski to the Florida Marlins for outfielder Cliff Floyd, utility player Wilton Guerrero, and pitcher Claudio Vargas.
July 28, 2002: Traded first baseman Lee Stevens, SS Brandon Phillips, pitcher Cliff Lee, and outfielder Grady Sizemore to the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.
July 30, 2002: Potentially under pressure by Bud Selig to trim payroll -- the Expos were owned by Major League Baseball -- Minaya flipped Floyd over to the Red Sox for Sun-Woo Kim and Seung Song.
January 15, 2003: In a three-team deal, again to shed salary, acquired pitchers Orlando Hernandez, Rocky Biddle, and utility player Jeff Liefer from the Chicago White Sox, while sending Colon and infielder Jorge Nunez to the White Sox. The New York Yankees were also involved in the deal.
March 24, 2003: Traded pitcher Jim Brower to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Livan Hernandez and catcher Edward Guzman
December 4, 2003: Traded pitcher Javier Vazquez to the New York Yankees for first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera, and pitcher Randy Choate.
December 15, 2003: Traded catcher Michael Barrett to the Oakland Athletics for a minor league pitcher, Jonathan Brett
December 19, 2003: Signed Carl Everett as a free agent.
January 5, 2004: Traded pitcher Scott Stewart to the Cleveland Indians for infielder Maicer Izturis and outfielder Ryan Church
March 25, 2004: Traded Randy Choate to the Arizona Diamondbacks for John Patterson
July 18, 2004: Traded Carl Everett and cash to the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Jon Rauch and Gary Majewski
July 21, 2004: In a four-team deal, acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez, Brendan Harris, and minor league pitcher Francis Beltran from the Chicago Cubs, while sending shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Boston Red Sox. Also involved were the Minnesota Twins.

[edit] As GM of the Mets

November 30, 2004: Re-signed Kris Benson to a three year, $22.5 million deal, plus $7.5 million club option
December 3, 2004: In his first trade as Mets GM, Minaya traded pitcher Mike Stanton and cash to the New York Yankees for Felix Heredia
December 13, 2004: Selected Henry Owens from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Minor League Rule V Draft
December 15, 2004: Signed free agent catcher Ramon Castro
December 17, 2004: Signed free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez to a four year, $53 million deal
January 6, 2005: Traded catcher Vance Wilson to the Detroit Tigers for infielder Anderson Hernandez
January 13, 2005: Signed free agent centerfielder Carlos Beltran to a seven year, $119 million deal
January 17, 2005: Signed free agent pitcher Roberto Hernandez
January 27, 2005: Traded minor league first baseman Ian Bladergroen to the Boston Red Sox for Doug Mientkiewicz
March 20, 2005: Traded catcher/first basement Jason Phillips to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii
June 7, 2005: Selected Mike Pelfrey with the 9th overall pick in the amateur free agent draft
November 18, 2005: Traded outfielder Mike Cameron to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Xavier Nady
November 24, 2005: Traded first baseman Mike Jacobs and pitchers Yusmeiro Petit and Grant Psomas to the Florida Marlins for Carlos Delgado and cash.
November 29, 2005: Signed free agent pitcher Billy Wagner to a four year, $43 million deal, plus an $8 clup option
December 5: 2005: Traded minor leaguers Gaby Hernandez and Dante Brinkley to the Florida Marlins for catcher Paul Lo Duca
December 22, 2005: Signed free agent outfielder Endy Chavez
December 27, 2005: Signed free agent pitcher Chad Bradford to a one year, $1.4 million contract
January 4, 2006: Traded pitchers Jae Weong Seo and Tim Hamulack to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll
January 22, 2006: Traded pitcher Kris Benson to the Baltimore Orioles for pitchers Jorge Julio and John Maine
May 24, 2006: Traded pitcher Jorge Julio to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Orlando Hernandez
July 19, 2006: Traded infielder Jeff Keppinger to the Kansas City Royals for infielder Ruben Gotay
July 31, 2006: Traded outfielder for Xavier Nady to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitchers Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez
August 20, 2006: Received pitcher Guillermo Mota from the Cleveland Indians for future considerations
August 22, 2006: Traded Evan MacLane to the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Shawn Green and cash.
November 15, 2006: Traded pitchers Heath Bell and Royce Ring to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Jon Adkins and Ben Johnson
November 20, 2006: Traded pitchers Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom to the Florida Marlins for Adam Bostick and Jason Vargas
November 21, 2006: Signed free agent outfielder Moises Alou
December 6, 2006: Traded pitcher Brian Bannister to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Ambiorix Burgos
December 7, 2006: Re-signed pitcher Guillermo Mota to a two year, $5 million deal.
January 16, 2007: Signed free agent pitcher Scott Schoeneweis three year, $10.8 million contract
July 30, 2007: Traded minor leaguers Drew Butera and Dustin Martin to the Minnesota Twins for Luis Castillo
November 20, 2007: Traded pitcher Guillermo Mota to the Milwaukee Brewers for catcher Johnny Estrada
November 30, 2007: Traded outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for outfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider
January 29, 2008: Traded outfielder Carlos Gomez, pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Johan Santana.