NY Mets Ownership Candidates: Who will buy the Amazins?

With the initial news of the Wilpon Family’s intentions to sell the New York Mets franchise long past, here’s an updated look at the three remaining groups still in on a potential deal.

In typical New York Mets fashion, nothing is ever easy – not even what should be considered ‘welcomed news’ for their fans – like the reality of new ownership in the not-so-distant future.

However, ever since the rumors of a potential franchise sale to minority owner, Steve Cohen, was revealed to be in the works back in December of 2019, those of us relieved by this news have continued to wait patiently for an outcome – or any new developments on the subject since said deal fell through in February of this year as neither side could come to an agreement.

But with the team now edging closer to a deal, it appears that the only three remaining groups who advanced to the final round of bids are: billionaire hedge fund manager, Steve Cohen; former major league infielder, Alex Rodriguez and his group; and business partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.

With Citi Field Tour dates already beginning for these groups still in negotiations, it looks like a transaction could be reached as early as the end of August – according to Sportico – or as late as the end of the year, according to The Post.

While updates about the sale have been few and far between from the Mets-end, or any insider close to each of these buying groups, here’s an in-depth look at the pros-and-cons each of these potential new owners could bring to the club.

Final offers are due to Allen & Co. – the company presiding over the sale process – on August 31st. Let’s hope the best owner wins out. Both Mets fans and the young players on their current roster deserve it.

Steve Cohen – New York Billionaire Titan

As the perceived front-runner to win the bidding for the team, Steve Cohen and his massive personal wealth is an intriguing prospect for Mets fans who have been subjected to the frugal ownership of the ‘Coupons’ since Fred Wilson bought Nelson Doubleday Jr’s majority stake in the franchise in 2002.

After Cohen’s initial offer for the team fell apart this past February 6th due to the Wilpon’s unreasonable terms that would have allowed them to remain part of the organization as controlling owners for a five-year period after the deal.

Then there was the issue of selling the team to Cohen without including the rights to SportsNet New York (SNY), which generates a large amount of revenue for the franchise.

Therefore, in order for a deal to be reached, the potential new owners should only come to an agreement that includes the team-owned cable network and controlling power of the organization in the deal. Once the check is signed, and the deal is closed, the new owners need to control everything in order to operate in full capacity.

Frankly, for north of $2 billion, the Wilpon’s have the nerve to ask to remain on the team with controlling interest. Luckily, I think these groups recognize the ludicrously of such terms.

Lastly, as Cohen is already a minority owner with an 8% stake in the team, there might not be much of a transitional period in terms of the front office along with the operations of the Mets Minor League affiliates.

This is important as the team gears up for a pivotal offseason that will see the end of several veteran contracts, multiple arbitration hearings, and maybe even a Conforto extension?

As the negotiations stand today, unless the price is right for Alex Rodriguez’s bid for the team, Cohen remains the most likely to close a deal by the end of the year.

A-Rod, J-Lo, and Company

Alex Rodriguez’s buying group includes several athletes, featuring both current and former NFL Stars Travis Kelce, DeMarco Murray, and Brian Urlacher, along with NBA All-Star Bradley Beal.

So it seems that the front office’s current philosophy could remain intact with this crowd of investors. The team’s current Executive VP & GM, Brodie Van Wagenen has said on multiple occasions that under his leadership, the front office would transition the franchise into a Player’s First Organization.

In fact, his exact words during his introductory press conference from two seasons ago were, “Part of the progressive ideas I have. The GM needs to be visible and needs to have a personal relationship with the players on the team. Obviously I have that with some of them and I look forward to building that with others.”

Therefore, the organization – whether they keep BVW on or not – has already been primed to receive owners with this mentality right away.

In fact, I think one of A-Rod’s potential strengths would be how involved he is in the front office, such as putting together a team of experienced baseball executives much like the front office currently is structured.

The hiring of Allard Baird as VP, Assistant GM, and Scouting & Player Development signaled the start of their investments into the analytics department with new technology and the supplemental hiring of analytics expert Adam Guttridge as assistant GM, for example.

For Rodriguez, it might make sense to keep things running as they are for the most part in the short term as he is evidently of the mindset of a player-first organization.

Plus, conducting a GM search while overhauling the front office in the middle of the Winter Meetings (the time in which a deal is expected to be finalized) would not be conducive to success in 2021.

The Mets could use some additional star power to go along with their young and dynamic pool of current and future MLB stars. And of course, A-Rod would have the added incentive to become a perennial NL East winner – not to be outshined by the Derek Jeter-run Miami Marlin front office.