East Orange, New Jersey – Rachel Minaya, the wife of former Mets general manager and current Yankees executive Omar Minaya, was found dead in their New Jersey home on Saturday, according to a person briefed by the family. Omar Minaya was not present at the time of his wife’s passing. The cause of Rachel’s death has been determined to not be suicide, as confirmed by the family source.
Omar Minaya, renowned for his scouting expertise, joined the Yankees as a senior adviser to general manager Brian Cashman earlier this year after a successful tenure with the Mets from 2004 to 2010. During his time as the Mets’ general manager, Minaya played a pivotal role in signing notable players such as Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez, which boosted the team’s performance and led them to the NLCS in 2006. Additionally, he oversaw draft picks that contributed to the Mets’ appearance in the 2015 World Series.
Rachel and Omar Minaya have two adult sons, Justin and Teddy. Justin, currently a forward with the Portland Trail Blazers, has been showcasing his basketball talent during the summer league in Las Vegas.
The Minayas’ love story began in 1989 when they first met at a hair salon in Manhattan. Quickly falling in love, they got engaged just a year later while on a trip to Italy. Throughout their marriage, Rachel stood by Omar’s side as he established his career in baseball.
Prior to his stint with the Yankees, Omar Minaya held various roles in Major League Baseball, including serving as the general manager of the Montreal Expos before the team relocated to Washington and became the Nationals. He also worked for the Texas Rangers in a scouting capacity and held the position of vice president of baseball operations for the San Diego Padres from 2011 to 2015.
In his current role with the Yankees, Minaya serves as one of three former general managers in the team’s front office.
The sudden passing of Rachel Minaya is undoubtedly a tragic event for the Minaya family and the baseball community as a whole. As the investigation into her death continues, the family mourns her loss. The thoughts and prayers of many are with the Minayas during this difficult time.