Mets: Three moves we should expect to see the Steve Cohen regime make

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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: The sunsets over Citi Field prior to game one of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series between Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets on October 17, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

The expectation under Steve Cohen is promising and suggests the New York Mets will make some moves The Wilpons wouldn’t have.

The Steve Cohen regime cannot start soon enough for the New York Mets. Fans are already lining up to help The Wilpons pack. Even Mr. Met was spotted taking measurements of their office and relaying them to the future owner.

The hype around Cohen is unreal. Not only is he “anyone but The Wilpons,” but he’s also a filthy-rich fan of the team everyone hopes will run the ball club as such.

Although we’re used to disappointment, it’s too soon to think in those terms yet. Without getting specific on the names, let’s dream a little right now and ponder about three moves we should expect to see the Cohen regime make.

Sign a player to a record deal

I’m looking at you, Trevor Bauer. While Bauer won’t get more money than Mike Trout, I could see his AAV becoming a record for starting pitchers. Based on his old plan to sign only one-year deals once he hits free agency, I could see Cohen and Company giving him a big fat record-breaking deal for the 2021 season.

There isn’t anyone else out there in free agency worth a deal like this. J.T. Realmuto could conceivably get the highest contract for a catcher ever. And if so, Cohen might be the man to do it.

Cohen isn’t shy about flaunting the money he has. Have you seen some of the whacky art pieces in his collection? The man flushes more money down the toilet than I could count in a lifetime.

The “Aggression Era” of Mets baseball is going to start this winter. Hoping to show everyone he means business, we should expect Cohen to break some records and hearts of other teams.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 18: Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees looks on during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 18, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Swipe a Yankees free agent

The New York Yankees actually have a few notable free agents this winter. Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and DJ LeMahieu are all coming off the books. I wanted to and may still explore these options (and more) but for now, I just want to talk about how sweet it will be for the Mets to swipe away a Yankees free agent.

We all know there’s a rivalry between these two ball clubs. Sharing a city and public transportation will do that.

Tanaka seems to make the most sense for the Mets because of their need for starting pitching. I would pass on Paxton based on his performance and look to see if there’s any way to fit LeMahieu into the lineup—which I don’t think there really is.

If not the Yankees, Cohen could win over some fans by signing a player from another rival. Realmuto, of course, comes out of Philadelphia. This could be a little vengeance for losing Zack Wheeler to them last winter.

An alternative to this big expectation could be that the Mets outbid the Yankees or another rival for a free agent both desire. The Yankees will need to replace the players they are in danger of losing. They are also constantly adding to their own roster, too.

These two franchises can go head-to-head in a free agent bidding war. I don’t think Cohen will want to come away as the loser in any war like this, especially if the Yankees are involved.

One thing Cohen should aim to do as the owner is take back New York. He can begin this process in year one.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets fields his position against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 06, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Keep/Bring back familiar and beloved Mets faces

Sandy Alderson is already on his way back to the Mets organization and I don’t think it ends there. Cohen may bring back more than just the former GM. There are plenty of other staffers and players he could look to reunite with.

Furthermore, there are some current players Cohen could certainly lock up long-term. Michael Conforto makes the most sense for an extension now. Extending Conforto early after becoming owner would set a great precedent for the new regime.

There are no long-beloved former Mets in this winter’s free agent pool, but someone like Asdrubal Cabrera might not be too bad of an addition. There are plenty of trades we could see happen, too. How much do the San Francisco Giants want for Wilmer Flores anyway?

It’s important Cohen doesn’t completely turn back the clock and try to recapture the short-lived glory days of the 2015-2016 run. This isn’t a recipe for winning.

I think a lot of Mets fans would like to see some ex-players back into the fold in some capacity. It’s one of the reasons why watching the broadcast is so enjoyable. Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are more than just broadcasters. They are fan-favorites from their younger days.

The Cohen regime has a chance to do things differently. Starting with a Tom Seaver statue that must be up by the time the 2021 season begins, beneath his ownership we need to see a little more respect for the franchise’s past.

Next. Mets best trade deadline deals of all-time

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What kind of moves both on and off the field do you expect to see Cohen make in his first winter?

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