Philadelphia – The first important decision for the new Mets boss-in-waiting will be to decide who will oversee baseball operations.
Steve Cohen’s transition to the owner of the Mets will not be official until early next month, when MLB owners vote on a 4 2.4 billion deal that would have left the hedge fund billionaire as the franchise’s controlling person. However, it is also possible that the vote will not come until the quarterly owners’ meetings in November. Cohen will need 23 of 29 votes.
The Wilpon and Katz families will leave their voices on organizational matters, but it is unclear whether general manager Brody van Wagner will retain control of baseball operations.
According to sources, Van Wagner and Cohen spoke on several occasions since last winter, when minority partner Cohen held special talks to buy the team for the first time. That deal never materialized, as the potential role of Team COO Jeff Wilpon in the new regime became a sticking point. Cohen also met with key members of Van Wagner’s front office fees as part of the realization process. Cohen had a previous relationship with a longtime friend, senior adviser Omar Minaya.
“[Cohen] No strangers to Brody.
The Post reported in January that Wagner wanted Cohen’s input to select a managerial replacement for Carlos Beltran, who stepped aside after his role in the Astros’ illegal sign-stealing scheme was revealed. But Cohen didn’t want to get involved at the time, preferring to see how Van Wagner handled the situation. Van Wagner was eventually promoted from the inside, with quality control coach Louis Rojas promoted to the position.
Sources show that there is a sense of optimism among Van Wagner’s employees that Cohen will give the front office at least next season before considering changes. This is especially true if Cohen is not approved by November when teams are already devising a se fisson no strategy. But even if Cohen is approved in October, his timeline will be tight to install new front office fees.
Cohen is expected to appoint a team president to oversee the club’s day-to-day operations. Those duties are currently handled by Jeff Wilpon.
One possibility is that Cohen will allow Van Wagner to report directly until the team president is appointed. If the team’s Cohen purchase was made months ago, Van Wagner is unlikely to return.
Former agent Van Wagnen became general manager of the Mets in October 2018, following the resignation of Sandy Alderson last June. Under Wayne Wagner, who got a four-year contract, the Mets missed out on playoffs last season, ending 86-76.
The Mets, who lost 4-1 to the Phillies on Tuesday, will miss the playoffs again until they warm up in these last 11 games, even in the expanded format which will include eight teams from each league.
Those results rarely scream “job security,” but Van Wagner may have a calendar lender next to him.
“The new GM is going to come and deliver his people in his place, he has to figure out what he has,” the source said. “[Cohen] Changing Jeff’s work. Steve will come in and not do it himself. ”
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