The long story of Steve Cohen’s pursuit of majority ownership of the New York Mets is getting another chapter. Cohen will submit another offer for the Mets after the first round of bids were weaker than the Wilpons expected.
#Mets are taking bids again.
Steve Cohen: pic.twitter.com/e4kUb7dQgc
— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) July 7, 2020
After a tumultuous first bid, which was the closest, the Wilpons were to selling in years. Cohen could place his second bid as soon as this week and has more to spend than any other bidder in the race. He can get close if not over, the $2 billion offer the Wilpons need.
No Hard Feelings?
Commissioner Rob Manfred agreed with the Wilpons that Cohen acted in bad faith back in February. The $2.6 billion deal fell through when it seemed all but complete. It seemed Cohen would remain as the eight percent owner and no longer make a run at buying the franchise.
The combination of COVID-19 putting the entire country in a chokehold and the seven underwhelming bidders put Cohen back in the race. He is the only possible owner who could buy the team and allow the Wilpons to keep SNY.
With his checkbook ready to go, Cohen steps into a unique opportunity. The Wilpons aim for a complete sale by October, which allows MLB to approve it by the end of 2020. Cohen’s name in the hunt gives Mets fans another glimmer of the light at the end of an 18-year long tunnel.