Move over, A-Rod/J.Lo? Steve Cohen, whose prior deal with the Mets collapsed, is evidently lurking for a second attempt. Thornton McEnery of the New York Post reports that the billionaire is preparing to participate in the first round of bidding.
Cohen had an agreement all but locked up with the existing Wilpon ownership group. But the unusual accord left substantial control rights with the Wilpons for a period of time and the sides ultimately came to disagree over how the transition would occur.
That original pact fell apart in early February, making for an inopportune timeline for the Wilpons. Cohen was (and is) a minority owners of the club; talks with him occurred without a broader bidding process. So when things collapsed, there wasn’t another party to turn to. And then came the coronavirus pandemic.
While there are multiple parties showing real interest in pursuing the franchise, there’s no indication to this point that a serious bidding war is underway. Cohen is said to have been “monitoring” the situation and still seems to be far and away the most qualified bidder. The Wilpons are reportedly asking for $2B — well less than what they would’ve originally received from Cohen — and don’t appear to have much hope of reaching that figure unless he jumps back into the picture.
bkbkbkbk
If anyone has read “Black Edge” expect Cohen to manipulate the whole process and this for 40% less than the original deal.
Ax from Ax Capital in Billions is based on this shyster.
dazhk
I don’t think the other owners will allow manipulating the sale price. That would hurt the value of their team.
bkbkbkbk
The dude struck a deal, backed out and is now the only qualified bidder to a team that NEEDS to be sold. We’re way past manipulating Peabody.
rct
I mean, he ‘backed out’ because Jeff Wilpon wanted to sell the team but somehow still be in control of it. It’s hard to fault Cohen for that or think it was part of some master plan to manipulate the price.
TeddyBallgameYazJimEd
Dude.. if you think Cohen was the one at fault in the previous deal then you are someone I want to do business with.
Here’s the deal I have for you. You buy my car and pay me for it today, but I get to still drive it and keep it at my house for the next 5 YEARS. Then after that I’ll give it to you.
Ok? Do we have a deal?
bkbkbkbk
That’s not exactly what happened. That was the top line that made the sports talk radio headlines, but it was never verified and there was a very tied in financial columnist who framed it as Cohen changing the payment terms and burning the deal.
Personally, I think he did the first run to test the waters and is now being an opportunist with what he knows.
Will31288
Then the others would have a high bid, and he would loose.
SalaryCapMyth
Did you follow the story of Cohen pulling out? It was an issue of control. Fred Wilpons son wanted to keep control of the team. So why slam Cohen?
cstoller
I can’t see a way how the owners let this guy in after reading that book.
SalaryCapMyth
@njbirds Did someone post something that got deleted?
DarkSide830
uh oh
coachdoc2002
Ideally Arod/Jlo would combine with Cohen, not that Cohen needs any money…..The baseball knowledge that Arod has might be very helpful
Will31288
That would be the worst thing that could possible happen. Jeter really worked out for the Marlins.
driftcat28 2
Jeter is still rebuilding that team? Idk how his ownership can be judged already when it’s still a WIP
bostondynasty
What would ARod hope to teach? Which part of the needle is buried in the buttocks?
alproof
No one knows more about cheating than that piece of garbage A-Roid.
JackStrawb
In all seriousness, what baseball knowledge, specifically?
Rodrigquez doesn’t know more than the many thousands of former players still alive, and given his talent had to learn less in order to stay in the game than most.
It would be interesting to see a link from anyone who thinks Rodriguez is a keen student of the game, to an interview or conversation where he shines, where his knowledge of the game stands out. Where’s that video—what’s his best case?
WiffleBall
Ideally A-Rod would win the bidding, further torturing Mets fans for another couple of generations.
Bill M
You have too much time on your hands
MetsFan22
I want Cohen… but to say Arod would be bad is stupid. He knows a lot of about baseball and money wouldn’t be a issue bc he is teaming up with other (richer) people.
James Solomon
Why are people so hung up in Arod? He’s a me first person who wants the spotlight. Plus, the media will make it out to be Arod vs Jeter every time Mets/Marlins are involved
920kodiak
A-Rod is a good guy.
mikesnug
?
Rangers29
Here are the three things I want to see happen before the end of 2020.
1. A vaccine to come out for corona.
2. Rangers win the WS (even in a short season).
3. The Mets finally get bought by someone (anyone).
5TUNT1N
Sorry?
reflect
An underrated board game imo
MetsFan22
2-3 are more realistic than 1
shortytallz
ARod is the only correct choice here
mikesnug
?
metsie1
Steve Cohen is worth more than all the other bidders. If he wants the team he is the clear favorite. He has F-U type money.
jimmyduz0523
F-U money is right. lets go Mr.Cohen get in there sir.
dellarocco72
Mets should be owned by a group that includes Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and Keith Hernandez!
nymetsking
and a mystery spitter.
bobtillman
Mets should be owned by Flip Wilson/Geraldine, Andy Kauffman and George Carlin.
bobtillman
Or Elliot Spritzer, Michael Cohen and Michael Avanati.
Hosmer for HOF
Watch how much they bid when I enter the equation
Melchez
Cohen went to the same college as our master and savior.
of9376
I said this a few weeks ago on a similar thread. Cohen is a n absolute savage when it comes to business deals. He is laughing at the Wilpons right now knowing he will buy 100% instead of 80% for significantly less due to the current state of affairs.
SalaryCapMyth
How about this: Repole drops out of the Arod/Jlo group and joins Cohen. You get the best of both worlds. I have my doubts about Arod being the controling face of the team.
xSpecBx
If Cohen want the teams it’s his to lose. He already has a stake in the team and has the money to buy the team. He will wind up paying less for more this time than the Wilpons would have gotten before. As other have said, my understanding is that he backed out because the Wilpons wanted to have a say in team operations while owning a portion or none of the team. Just didn’t make sense for Cohen to continue at that point.
TeddyBallgameYazJimEd
Are you saying the Wilpons made a bad business decision….say it ain’t so…lol
Its only fitting that they turned a $3 Billion dollar deal into a $2 Billion one in less than 5 months.
Fred should leave Jeff out of his will for this one…lol
bkbkbkbk
This IS NOT what happened. Don’t get me wrong. The Wilpons are elite level clowns, it Cohen was no Boy Scout in this deal not happening the first time.
21jbreen
Mets fans should root for Cohen. Already a minority owner, may be the only one willing to bid $2 billion, and has the most money. Also grew up a Mets fan.
jetup12
This is what people do. If Cohen tries to “manipulate” the process to save four or five hundred million we have a problem with that?
schuldiner
Wasn’t there an issue regarding the SNY not being included?
seaver41
It’s as simple as Mets lose money, network makes money. Guess which one Wilpons want to keep
JNG800
Could always wind up with Jim Dolan.
SportsFan0000
The Wilpons are the worst thing to happen to the Mets…No one who can easily control 2B, 3B or more is going to make this deal for the Mets without the Sports Network included. in the deal. It is that simple.
MLB and its franchises valued at an average of 1B+ .
The Mets are in NYC the biggest sports market in the country. $$$$
With the right ownership, the Mets are a goldmine and perennial contender.
Smart, well funded New Ownership will not let the Wilpons anywhere near Front Office and decision-making process of New Ownership.
Like the Bernie Madoff “business deals”, the Wilpons are not the sharpest tools in the shed.
Cohen is in the lead, but I expect MLB pressure to put together an ownership group with major minority control if possible. ARod or someone else .
Businesses are now getting serious about bringing minorities to the table with the protests and Black Lives Matter movement etc.. I could see either Cohen getting together with a minority ownership group (Arod of someone else) or another mystery buyer entering from stage left to make a compelling bid.
This deal will get done, but not in the present configuration….