New York Mets: Three observations on the Steve Cohen sale

What did you notice about the sale of the New York Mets to Steve Cohen?

September 14th, 2020 will be a major day of significance in the story of the New York Mets baseball franchise. On this date, news broke that the Mets and billionaire Steve Cohen have officially reached a purchase agreement. The move would make Cohen just the sixth principle owner in the history of the Mets.

This news was cause for great joy amongst a fan base who has often lamented the dysfunction, lack of success, and penny-pinching of current owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon. Many fans in New York would even go as far as to quickly nominate the Wilpons as the worst owners in American professional sports.

While we all, as fans, eagerly await for confirmation of the Cohen purchase and fantasize about how the change will positively impact our favorite team, there are three brief observations I’d like to share:

Observation #1: Cohen will become the richest owner in MLB

Much has been made of this point. But let that fact sink in for a moment. The New York Mets, a team with a reputation on behaving like a small market team despite playing in the biggest sports city in the country, will now have the capital to rival the sports’ financial elite. More than the Red Sox. More than the Dodgers. More than even the cross-town Yankees.

This will be a complete change of pace for the Mets. The team has spent many of the past seasons with little to no chance of adding top free agents.

For the first time in recent memory, the franchise has a real opportunity to be competitive in all facets of the game. While we don’t yet know Cohen’s plans, the potential is a beautiful thing.

Observation #2: Cohen’s group has leaked very little information

This leads me to my next observation. This is the second time that Cohen has surfaced as a major player to purchase the Mets. Twice, the idea of a rare change in ownership has occurred surrounding a major franchise in the midst of the New York media.

And yet, how much do we really know about the details? Cohen and company have kept the important information surprisingly quiet considering the circumstances. At no point has information been released without their approval. This is a breath of fresh air following an administration famous for their dysfunction.

We also don’t have any idea what Cohen is thinking in terms of baseball. He has yet to divulge any information concerning his plans for the franchise, vision, spending exceptions, front office or coaching changes, etc.

It can be assumed that Cohen has plenty of connections in the baseball world. He may also be interested in making changes and implementing “his people” in key roles. Yet, he has kept these details private throughout the process thus far. When you look at the best sports owners, a defining trait seems to be an absence of boisterous public opinions and meddling. Many top individuals are largely faceless and even nameless in the minds of the average sports fan. Their focus is on their business, building a healthy culture, and setting their franchises up for maximum success.

An owner with the ability to limit leaks, speak strategically, and control information is something most Mets fans will sign up for in a heartbeat. I certainly know I would!