NewsMinaya reaches out to Towers, Ricciardi
Mets GM reportedly interested in hiring dismissed executivesBy Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
10/05/09 10:21 AM EST
Mets general manager Omar Minaya has reached out to two former long-standing GMs who lost their jobs last week, the New York Post reported on Monday.Minaya contacted Kevin Towers and J.P. Ricciardi over the weekend to not only express support, but also to "lay the groundwork to speak to both soon about possible jobs in the Mets' organization," The Post said in a report late Sunday.
Towers, who served 14 years with the Padres, and Ricciardi, the Blue Jays' GM for eight seasons, are known to be good talent evaluators, something the Mets could use after a 70-92 season despite the second-highest team payroll in the Major Leagues.
Both come in with long track records, and they would be working under Minaya, who has been the subject of criticism despite being about to start a three-year contract extension.
Minaya worked with Towers when he traded reliever Heath Bell to San Diego for Jon Adkins and Ben Johnson in 2006.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
