We know Minaya is good at drafting and scouting. I was never a big fan of him as a GM

This was  my entry into the7line jersey contest.

Omar Minaya really is a really good evaluator of young talent. Some guys just have that gift and he is one of them. It's amazing after being let go as the GM a few years ago that he is back in the organization doing the thing he seems to actually love.

NY Post is touting about how good Omar Minaya is with international scouting.

 Minaya has made essential hirings, starting with Rafael Perez, who is the new director of international operations.

“He is the key person to this,’’ Minaya said. “He is overseeing the scouting and development component.’’
Perez was appointed director of Dominican operations for MLB in 2011. He had worked for the Mets previously. 

“The academy that we built down there, he was the originator of the academy,’’ Minaya said. “I think it’s the best academy and that is a competitive advantage for us.’’
During his earlier tenure with the Mets, Perez helped sign Jeurys Familia, Juan Lagares, Wilmer Flores, Rafael Montero, Luis Cessa, Hansel Robles, Ruben Tejada, Elvis Ramirez, Fernando Martinez, Jordany Valdespin, Ezequiel Carrera, Jefry Marte and Gonzalez Germen.

“This is a game of numbers, so I’d rather sign 25 guys than 10 guys and in the international market you can always find some jewels, some late bloomers,’’ Perez said. “It is wonderful having Omar, who is a great evaluator of the international market, but we feel highly supported by Brodie. Brodie comes with a very open mind. Let’s think outside the box. The whole idea was to put together a great staff because the international market is very complex now.’’

Read more here.

I liked d'Arnaud, don't get me wrong. I do however like the fact the Mets have this new catcher and I am not worried about this position going into the season. BTW is Third Base now cursed?

Wilson Ramos talks up deGrom and the rotation.

From the NY Post

 Among the reasons Wilson Ramos signed with the Mets this offseason was the opportunity to catch a pitching staff he believed was good enough to compete for a title.

Not surprisingly, no one has impressed him more so far than reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.

“DeGrom has been even better than I thought,” Ramos said of the right-hander who will make his third start of the spring when the Mets visit the Nationals on Thursday in West Palm Beach, following Wednesday’s off day.

“I saw him improve last year when his slider started moving even more than it did before,” Ramos said. “He’s nasty. I didn’t feel good against him at the plate and now that I see him every day, I know why.”

Read more here.