Minaya, 56, "will focus on the areas of domestic game development and international affairs and play," the MLBPA said. Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
After almost 30 years in scouting and executive roles for major-league teams, Omar Minaya on Thursday moved to the players’ side.
Minaya, who had been the San Diego Padres’ senior vice president of baseball operations for the past three years, left Thursday for a job as senior advisor to Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark.
Minaya, 56, “will focus on the areas of domestic game development and international affairs and play,” the MLBPA said.
“I have long considered myself a players’ administrator with a complete belief that the players are not only the face of the game but they provide the sport with its heart and soul,” Minaya said in a statement. “I share the players’ and Tony’s views on the state of the game, especially as they relate to what active and inactive players are doing to help develop the game, widen its appeal and excite the next generation of players, while ensuring the integrity of the competition on the field is maintained.”
Minaya, born in the Dominican Republic, was baseball’s first Hispanic general manager, placed in charge of the Montreal Expos in 2002. He also was the New York Mets’ GM from 2005 to 2010.
The Padres hired Minaya as VP in December 2011, and he and assistant general managers A.J. Hinch and Fred Ulhman had filled Josh Byrnes’ role ever since Byrnes was fired last June.
“We feel fortunate to be in a position to hire someone with Omar’s experience and reputation,” Clark said in a statement. “His vast and diverse knowledge of all aspects of the sport will afford the union and our members an unprecedented and invaluable level of expertise in any of a growing number of issues of importance to players, domestically and abroad.”
