The J-Rod Mets may be getting closer to reality.
The bid led by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez has become the ‘clear-cut favorite’ to buy the Mets, USA Today reported Sundayand calls the belief of “several MLB executives.”
Final bids for the team are due by August 31st.
There were earlier questions about whether the J-Rod group would have enough money to compete with the other bidders – hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen and another group led by Devils and 76ers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer . But J-Rod has added Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola and co-founder Vitamin Water to Mike Repole to boost their funding.
Rodriguez and Lopez are thought to be investing $ 225-300 million of their own money. Viola is worth about $ 5 billion and $ 3 billion is reopening, opening up the possibility that they could contribute more money than J-Rod – possibly making Rodriguez arrangement for CEO, but not the controlling Mets owner.
“It could make sense for Vinny to be the controller,” a source close to the situation told The Post earlier.
Cohen, who is worth $ 14 billion, tried to buy the team in February for a reported $ 2.6 billion before the deal with the Wilpons fell through.
The Post previously reported that J-Rod met with Patriots owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft to discuss a partnership over stadium operations for Citi Field and the development of Willets Point around the park.
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