Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is leaving his job as senior vice president of the San Diego Padres to become a special adviser to Major League Baseball Players Association head Tony Clark, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The 56-year-old Minaya was born in the Dominican Republic and started in baseball management as a scout for the Texas Rangers, where he helped sign Sammy Sosa. He became the major leagues' first Hispanic general manager with the Montreal Expos from February 2002 until September 2004. Minaya follows the path of Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, who left his job as executive vice president/senior adviser of the Padres after a dozen years in December 2013 to become a special assistant to Clark. More...