And then there were four. The New York Mets sales saga is approaching an ens as there are only four owner groups left in the bidding war.
Sportico’s Scott Soshnick reports that the New York Mets were down to four bidders. Hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, sports owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer, celebrity couple Alex Rodríguez and Jennifer López, and a mystery bidder. Soshnick also reports that SNY is off the table.
Steve Cohen is the favorite in every sense of the word. He has the most money to spend, his $ 2 billion offer was the highest in the first round, and he’s the fans’ choice. It should not surprise us that he is moving to the second round.
Harris and Blitzer are viewed by most as the second most likely place right now. If needed, they have enough money to increase their offering, have a combined net worth of $ 6.6 billion, and already have experience buying and managing sports franchises. In fact, they are the primary owners of two American sports franchises: the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.
His initial offer is currently unknown, but the New York Post reported that it was close to $ 1.7 billion. That puts them in the same league as J-Rod’s offer.
Some may be surprised to see J-Rod go that far. The celebrity couple nearly quit the race months ago due to lack of finances. They have now submitted a bid in the region of $ 1.7 to $ 2 billion. That puts them on the hunt for the Queens-based franchise.
It doesn’t hurt that your bet is packed with star power. In addition to Rodríguez and López, the offer also features a number of current and former athletes. It is unknown how the Wilpons or MLB feel about the potential marketing capabilities of such a star-studded group. It might be enough to tip the scales in J-Rod’s favor even though his initial offer is lower than Cohen’s.
The mystery bidder is the real wild card here. It is likely that they are not the Reuben Brothers or Kurt Rappaport, as they are both known bidders. It will be someone who has well hidden their interest or potentially someone who has not yet entered the tender.
One possibility is the CK McWhorter ownership group. They were not on the original list of seven previously approved MLB bidders. However, it is known that he is pressing for an opportunity to bid for the team. He has a bid of $ 1.8 billion and is even backed by Mets legend Darryl Strawberry.
The race finally moves again. With only four bidders remaining, Mets fans should hope that a deal is struck before the end of the year.
