Minaya, Cashman making pitches

November 12, 2005
Omar Minaya went to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to recruit free agents Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran last season. The personal touch — and a truckload of Fred Wilpon's money — paid off for the Mets as both players signed.
Minaya was at it again yesterday, visiting catchers Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina at their homes.
Minaya and assistants Tony Bernazard and John Ricco left the general manager meetings in Indian Wells, Calif., and stopped in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista to visit Hernandez. They went from there to Yuma, Ariz., to see Molina.
The conversations were a precursor to the Mets deciding which catcher they would pursue the hardest. The third option is Kenji Jojima, the Japanese star.
Alan Nero, who represents Molina and Jojima, has been in daily contact with Minaya. Jojima will hold a press conference in Chicago on Thursday to discuss his plans. According to Nero, Jojima will visit New York to speak with the Mets.
The Angels have indicated they want to keep Molina. But he has family in New York and indicated several times during the AL playoffs that playing for the Mets or Yankees had a certain appeal.
Signing Molina away from the Angels would probably take a three-year deal worth $24 million. Hernandez and Jojima could come a bit cheaper.
While Minaya went on the road, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman came home to try to close a deal. He has a meeting arranged tomorrow with agent Arn Tellem to try to finalize a contract for left fielder Hideki Matsui.
Matsui has remained in New York since the end of the season and will discuss his status with Tellem today. The parties face a Tuesday deadline to make a deal or Matsui must be released under the terms of his contract. The deadline could be extended by mutual agreement, but both Cashman and Tellem are determined to get it done on time.
Tellem joked earlier this week that he was willing to move into Cashman's home if that's what it took.
Matsui would prefer to stay with the Yankees. But he told reporters in Japan earlier this week that he would be comfortable playing elsewhere. If Matsui goes on the open market, he would join Johnny Damon as one of the top outfielders available.

Source: http://www.nyjournalnews.com/