How many others are just as confused as I am with the Mets decision to extend the contract of GM Omar Minaya? Is this the same guy that made the following decisions:
Traded Lastings Milledge for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church
Traded Heath Bell and Royce Ring for Jon Adkins and Ben Johnson
Traded Guillermo Mota for Johnny Estrada
Traded Brian Bannister for Ambiorix Burgos
Signed an injury-prone Luis Castillo to a 4 year deal
OK, granted he did make a few good trades:Maine and Santana come to mind, but GMs are graded on EVERY trade and signing they make. I highlight these deals as all of these guys have gone on to perform very well, or in Milledges case, will prove to be better long term, than what Minaya got in return. With the Mets bullpen woes the last two years, one has to think that Heath Bell and Guillermo Mota would have been upgrades to what the Mets have been throwing out there to help keep leads since Billy Wagner went down.
After tonight's game, the decision to extend Minaya makes one wonder if the Wilpon's are following Wall Street's lead by rewarding him for failure......failing to make the playoffs in 3 of his 4 years as the Mets GM. With the Phillies win tonight ,combined with the fact that the Mets have to face the Marlins ace Ricky Nolasco tomorrow, the Mets chances of making the playoffs are as good as Merrill Lynch surviving without the sweet Bank of America deal a few weeks ago....slim and none.
The reason for the Mets failures are well documented-the bullpen has been horrific. Minaya had every opportunity to improve his bullpen at the trade deadline and did not, yet he has been willing to deal young talent and get nothing in return....except for the Santana deal. The decision to not make a deal for bullpen help probably cost the Mets the division and a playoff spot, as they have blown lead after lead since Wagner was placed on the DL.
For all this, Minaya gets a new 4 year deal. Why?