The Mets have fired Ramon Pena, the organization’s top official in charge of signing Latin American talent, the Daily News has learned. In addition, vice president of scouting Sandy Johnson intends to retire, and minor-league field coordinator Luis Aguayo has been let go, sources said.
Tony Bernazard, who was fired on July 27 after a series of over-the-top clubhouse antics, and Johnson were Minaya’s two top lieutenants. More turnover could be coming since only Rudy Terrasas, who oversees the amateur draft, is believed to be under contract beyond this season.
Pena’s dismissal signals displeasure with the performance of a number of high-caliber Latin American prospects signed as teenagers.
But the Daily News article really does a good job of describing the failure of the Mets’ international operations under Minaya. Jose Reyes was a Steve Phillips signing. No one else has made an impact, despite the Mets’ far greater need to make waves on the international market due to their constant forfeiture of draft picks due to free agent signings. There’s nothing wrong with focusing so heavily on Latin players per se, but if you’re going to put all of your huevos in one cesta, you had better be good at it.
Assuming all of these guys getting axed were Omar Minaya hires -- and assuming that Omar isn’t going to be trusted to pick their replacements -- one wonders why Minaya still has a job himself.