General manager Omar Minaya and the New York Mets have agreed on a four-year contract extension through 2013, Newsday, SI.com and ESPN reported. Minaya took over after the 2004 season and guided the team into contention. The Mets made the playoffs in 2006, sparked largely by players acquired by Minaya, and led the National League East for much of 2007. The Mets lead the wild-card race. An announcement is expected after the season.
Et cetera: : Spring training is expanding by nearly a week next year because of the World Baseball Classic. Players will start reporting to training camps Feb. 14, under an agreement between the players association and the commissioner's office. Exhibition games will start about Feb. 25. ... A specialist recommended that 2005 National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter have surgery for a compressed nerve in his shoulder, a procedure the Cardinals believe could have their ace back by spring training. .. New York police say they arrested more than a dozen people on suspicion of stealing pieces of Yankee Stadium during the 85-year-old ballpark's final game. ... Wally Joyner quit as Padres hitting coach. San Diego entered yesterday with a .250 batting average, 27th in the majors. ... The Red Sox will retire Johnny Pesky's No. 6 on Friday.
