12/5/19

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 12/5/2019



Then, the big story, the Wilpons are taking steps to sell the Mets to billionaire Steve Cohen.  Per the NY Post, “As part of the agreement, Wilpon will remain as control person and CEO for five years. Team COO Jeff Wilpon (who is Fred’s son) will also continue in his role for five years. After that period — or perhaps sooner — it’s expected, according to a source, that both Wilpons will be removed from the daily operations of the team.”

Not sure why the 5 year transition but the NY Post had that Fans were celebrating the move.



Mets Daddy thinks that Zack Wheeler leaving is a great day because the Wilpons sold the Mets.  “The Mets went from the Wilpons who are not billionaires to someone who is the richest owner in baseball.”


Mike Vaccaro says that “Steve Cohen’s looming Mets takeover changes everything.”  Mike included a quote from Fred Wilpon when Fred and Nelson Doubleday bought the team: “ ’I’ll do whatever is necessary to bring the fans a winner,” the 43-year-old Wilpon said into every camera lens at the old Diamond Club, up on Shea Stadium’s press level. ‘We will spend whatever is necessary to see a World Series flag flying over Shea Stadium in the ’80s.’ ”

So I am a little skeptical that the move changes everything even though Joel Sherman says: “Steve Cohen is Mets’ godsend that ‘should bother the Yankees”.

The NY Post also says Steve Cohen is a free spender who hates to lose.  “a huge modern art collector with a penchant for setting records at auctions. Just this May, he set a new record for a living artist when he forked over $91 million at auction for a Jeff Koons bunny sculpture.”

Go trade and then sign Mookie Betts.  Sign Cole or Starsburg, eat the Cano contract, eat the Lowrie contract, and I may believe you.  Start emphasizing fundamentals throughout your organization and don’t fire the Managers like Fonzie that instill those qualities.  Until then, it’s business as usual. 

Yahoo Sports said that Mets fans shouldn’t celebrate just yet.  The 63-year-old Cohen has been involved in some less than savory business dealings over the years. His investment firm, Point72 Asset Management, had a lawsuit filed against it alleging gender discrimination. Cohen was also the founder of S.A.C., a hedge fund that pleaded guilty to engaging in insider trading.


Mets Daddy thinks that $100 million is a discount for Zack Wheeler.  As always Mets Daddy makes some great points: “Over the last two years, Wheeler has averaged 30 starts and 188.2 innings…While his 60 starts over the past two years rank 32nd in the majors, tying him with Max Scherzer and Mike Minor, his 377.2 innings pitched are 12th most in the majors. That’s roughly 6.1 innings per start.”



Mets 360 weighs in on the giving up a pre-arb player to get a salary dump.  They talk further about a bad contract for bad contract trade such as the potential J.D. Davis, Jeurys Familia, & prospects for Lorenzo Cain and Josh Hader.  At least they get a Center Fielder in this one though “Cain dropped off considerably last year and is owed $51 million over the next three seasons”.



Faith and Fear in Flushing continues the top 100 Mets of the 2010 decade, numbers 70-61.  Number 70, Eric Campbell, and Number 67, Hansel Robles. 



In the Dominican Republic last night, none of the three current Mets pitchers on the Toros Del Este, Chris Mazza, Tyler Bashlor and Daniel Zamora, pitched in the 8-3 Toros win. 

Ex Met Jonathan Niese started his first game of the winter for Aguilas Cibaenas and pitched 4 shutout innings giving up 2 hits, 4 walks with 3 Ks.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:
Transactions:

Seattle Mariners drafted Rick Baldwin from the Mets on December 5, 1977.

New York Mets traded Tom Grieve and Kim Seaman to the St. Louis Cardinals for Pete Falcone on December 5, 1978.

Mets drafted Mike Howard from the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 5, 1978.

New York Mets traded John Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras to the Baltimore Orioles for Keith Hughes and Cesar Mejia on December 5, 1989.

New York Mets signed free agent Vince Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals on December 5, 1990.

Toronto Blue Jays signed Pat Tabler of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1990.

Mets drafted Kevin Lomon from the Atlanta Braves on December 5, 1994.

Mets drafted Shawn Hare from the San Diego Padres on December 5, 1994.

Mets drafted Jason Hardtke from the San Diego Padres on December 5, 1994.

Florida Marlins signed Joe Orsulak of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1995.

Los Angeles Dodgers signed Orel Hershiser of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1999.

New York Mets signed free agent Brett Hinchliffe on December 5, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves on December 5, 2002.

New York Mets traded Gaby Hernandez and Dante Brinkley to the Florida Marlins for Paul Lo Duca on December 5, 2005.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news. 

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.

2 comments:

Zozo said...

Yesterday was a national holiday here in Metsland. December 4th will go down as one of the happiest days in Mets Fans lives right up there with 69 and 86 World Series wins, Piazza, Hernandez, Johan, Carter trades, Pedro, Beltran Signings, Seaver, Wright and deGrom drafts.

Since I read that SNY isn’t in the sale, I hope Mr Cohen gets what the franchise deserves $$$ wise annually from the network and he doesn’t get fleeced by the Wilpon’s.

Now let’s go over the luxury tax just once and let’s continue the celebrations!!! #LFGM

Tom Brennan said...

It's Cohen Time - and not a nanosecond too soon.

Ina Cohen regime, I cannot imagine that an Eric Campbell could be ranked the # 70 player in the last decade - that is emblematic of all that has been wrong with the Mets. And hopefully will very shortly no longer be so.

Zack won 44 games in his career - and signs for $118 million. God Bless America.