Wilpon hopes Omar stays with Mets
Fred Wilpon CEO of the NY Mets attending the Police Athletic League 18th. Annual Sportsnite honoring Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins held at Cipriani. (Jan. 27, 2011) Credit: Errol Anderson
This isn't the last we've heard of Omar Minaya, if Mets owner Fred Wilpon has any say in the matter.
Wilpon, who spoke to reporters about his prognosis for the season and Minaya's future, said Thursday that he "very much" wants him to return to the Mets in a scouting or advisory role. Wilpon floated the idea of using Minaya on the international level and added that he's had two or three discussions with the ousted general manager on the matter.
"I think Omar is a very good person and a very good man," Wilpon said at the Police Athletic League's 18th annual Sportsnite at the Cipriani banquet hall in Manhattan. "I think the right position for Omar would be helpful for Omar and helpful to the organization."
Wilpon added that the international arena would be best suited to Minaya's strengths in that it's "an area he knows well and an area I think he'll do well in."
He added, "I'm hoping it will happen."
Minaya didn't return messages seeking comment but has told people privately that he's going to take his time before deciding what his next job will be. He also has said he has spoken with several teams about special assistant positions in the front office.
The GM, who was fired and replaced by Sandy Alderson after a disastrous 2010 season, is under contract through 2012 and is owed a little more than $2 million during its duration.
As for the bigger picture, while Wilpon said he wouldn't talk about expectations, he did say the Mets are "a better team with the structural and fundamental changes" and that he is looking forward to this season.
"I think we have a good team and we're a lot better than you guys and the public think," Wilpon said to the assembled media.
Manager Terry Collins, who also attended, added that the Mets' problems don't stem from a lack of talent but a lack of confidence.
"We've got to get back and convince these guys that they're good enough, that their stuff's good enough," he added, referring to the pitching staff. "Now it's about the execution part."
The Mets, Collins added, are healthier than they've been in a long time, with Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran saying they're back to form and Jose Reyes "in the best shape of his life."
Wilpon concurred. "I'm ready for spring training," he said. "I'm pretty happy about some of the moves made, and don't forget we had a pretty good core, so we'll see."
With Jim Baumbach
