Mets' Minaya gets 4-year extension

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

General manager Omar Minaya and the Mets have agreed on a four-year contract extension, SI.com has confirmed. An official announcement is not expected until after the season.

Minaya's several high-profile acquisitions have built the Mets into a perennial contender in the National League, and while the timing of the news is a little unusual in that the Mets are struggling in September for a second straight season, an extension was expected all along based on the club's overall improvement during his tenure. He also enjoys an excellent working relationship with the Wilpon family, which owns the Mets.

Minaya's major acquisitions for the Mets have included Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez and National League MVP candidate Carlos Delgado. But while the Mets have been a a contender for three straight seasons, they are in the midst of trying to avoid a second consecutive disastrous ending.

Minaya came under fire for the way in which Willie Randolph was fired, but the Wilpons didn't blame him and Randolph's replacement, Jerry Manuel, has led the Mets back into the race.

Minaya's first Mets contract, which was to run through next year, was for about $4 million over five years. The extension is expected to contain a significant raise.

News of the impending extension was first reported on nybaseballdigest.com and espn.com.