Mets fans, rejoice: the Wilpons are out and Steve Cohen is in.
The Mets’ new head honcho is a hedge fund manager with an estimated net worth of $14 billion, making him the wealthiest primary owner in all of baseball. Cohen, who served as the inspiration for the Bobby Axelrod character on Showtime’s Billions, is also a Long Island native and lifelong Mets fan.
With Cohen in charge, a new era is dawning in Queens. But how will Cohen reshape an organization that has been continually plagued by underperformance?
With Cohen at the helm, expect the following changes in Flushing.
The Free Agent Market
Shortly after his purchase of the Mets was approved by MLB’s 29 other owners, Cohen released a statement indicating his desire to explore the free agent market. Said Cohen, “With free agency starting Sunday night we will be working towards a quick close.”
It’s no secret that under the Wilpon regime, financial limitations prevented the Mets from spending big on free agents. There should be no such issue under Cohen, who has the financial might to woo the most alluring players available.
This winter, high-profile players like J.T. Realmuto, Trevor Bauer, and George Springer will hit free agency in the hopes of securing lucrative contracts. These players — along with others — will be of serious interest to the Mets, who are looking to supplement a core that includes two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom and former rookie sensation Pete Alonso.
The Mets are in desperate need of rotation depth, an issue that was exacerbated by Noah Syndergaard’s Tommy John surgery and Marcus Stroman’s decision to sit out the entire 2020 season. Stroman will become a free agent if he rejects the Mets’ one-year qualifying offer, and short-term signings Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha are also on the open market following disappointing one-year stints in Flushing.
Another issue the Mets must address is their current catching vacancy; the club declined its 2021 option on Wilson Ramos after his most recent campaign left much to be desired.
While no one can know for sure what the club’s payroll will be going forward, Cohen’s initial statements suggest an aggressive approach when it comes to player acquisitions. Whereas signing a player of Realmuto’s caliber would have been a long-shot in the not-too-distant past, Cohen’s deep pockets make such transactions feasible.
Mets fans eagerly anticipate the possibility that Cohen will lure big-name players to Queens. They’ll be even more ecstatic if he signs franchise cornerstone Michael Conforto to an extension that keeps him in the Big Apple for the remainder of his prime.
Augmenting Analytics
In baseball’s modern era, building a perennial contender requires more than just a sizable payroll. Organizations must also invest in cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, specifically in regard to analytics.
Under Wilpon ownership, the Mets had one of baseball’s smallest analytics departments, consisting of as little as three members when other teams employed as many as 20. The Wilpons were also reluctant to spend on technology that would have aided player development, such as a motion capture system that, at $150,000 in cost, was deemed too expensive.
According to recent reports, Cohen will look to beef up the analytics staff and upgrade the “archaic” technology currently used by the organization.
Embracing the analytics revolution has worked wonders for teams like the Rays, who have outsmarted other clubs by optimizing defensive shifts and employing unique strategies like “the opener.” But it’s not just small market teams that have benefited from analytics. In recent years, the Yankees and Dodgers have prioritized sabermetric philosophies while sparing no expense in terms of roster construction and player development. Cohen intends to make the Mets a juggernaut, which can be achieved by combining intellectual advancements with a healthy increase in payroll.
Adding Alderson
Even before his purchase became official, Cohen announced that he would bring back former Mets GM Sandy Alderson in the role of team president. Alderson’s initial tenure in Queens was uneven, but it included a magical World Series run in 2015 and a Wild Card appearance the following year. Alderson can also be credited with acquiring the team’s most important pieces, having drafted Pete Alonso, Dominic Smith, and Brandon Nimmo, while bringing in Noah Syndergaard via trade.
When Alderson arrived in Queens in the 2010 offseason, he assembled an All-Star front office that included former Billy Beane disciples Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi. This executive group was advertised as “Moneyball with money,” a tantalizing description that never fully materialized. Alderson and his crew did their best to maneuver around the restrictions imposed by ownership, but the club was never at the forefront of the sabermetrics movement. Ultimately, Alderson was never granted the financial freedom to shape the exact roster that he envisioned.
Despite his shortcomings as Mets GM, Alderson remains one of the most revered minds in baseball. Among the changes expected to accompany his return is the dismissal of his successor in the GM role, Brodie Van Wagenen. With Steve Cohen in control and Alderson entrenched as president, the Mets will also be on the hunt for a brand new President of Baseball Operations.
Fan Appreciation
Just days after his purchase was approved, Cohen was on Twitter asking fans how he could improve their Mets experience. This tactic offers a stark contrast to how the previous regime operated; the Wilpons rarely spoke to the media and were even less keen on engaging fans directly.
In his initial Twitter interactions with fans, Cohen has expressed a willingness to bring back the team’s black uniforms from the late-90s, make Old Timers’ Day an annual event, and do more to honor Mets history at Citi Field. He’s also listened to suggestions for improving the area around Citi Field, allowing players to appear on local talk radio, and implementing more family day experiences.
Whichever changes Cohen chooses to make, his desire to improve the fan experience is already winning over the Flushing Faithful.
Searle’s Final Say
While it might be foolhardy to assume that Steve Cohen will instantly cure all the Mets’ ills, his arrival bodes well for the future of the organization. For a recent example of a flagging franchise revived by an ownership change, look no further than this year’s World Series champions. Back in 2011, the Dodgers made headlines because of the contentious divorce of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt. The Commissioner at the time, Bud Selig, stepped in to remove the McCourts of their duty, leading the team to be sold to an ownership group headed by Magic Johnson. The Dodgers have won eight NL West titles since the sale was completed, serving as a model franchise for the rest of baseball.
If Mets fans get their wish, Steve Cohen’s influence will lead to the same type of success that the Dodgers have enjoyed over the last decade. At the very least, the Flushing Faithful can rest assured that their team’s new leader is fully committed to putting the best product on the field.
