Beltran and Cohen Out Before First Game

Gathered in a Mets conference room at Citi Field in early November media members and TV crews amassed as the newest MLB manager and Mets skipper Carlos Beltran was to be introduced as the man who could right the wayward ship for the forseeable future in New York. Beltran,  who was highly regarded as a former player and a front office presence for both the Yankees and Astros would never see his first game as a manager after the Astros sign stealing scandal would land not only Carlos’ job, but that of two World Series winning managers in Alex Cora and AJ Hinch, ironically in the trash can. 

 

As disaster continued off the field under second year General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen, the controlling family of the New York Mets the Wilpons thought to throw themselves into the offseason soap opera based in Queens. Reports of a possible sale of controlling interest in the Mets ownership began picking up steam after details were revealed to show a deep pocketed hedge fund manager in Billionaire Steve Cohen would be the potential buyer. 

 

 

After an agreement was struck between Steve Cohen and the Wilpon family in the neighborhood of $2.5 billion to take his 8% stake in the team to a controlling interest the negotians fell completely apart. According to sources close to the negotiations the issue leading to the end of discussion was the fact Fred Wilpon and son Jeff would keep their positions with the team for five more years. Fred and Jeff Wilpon would hold positions of decision making on personnel, which was non-negotiable for Cohen, who if allowed would essentially be buying something he could not even run himself which made little sense. The deal is officially dead and the Mets ownership will remain intact.  

 

Sunny Port St. Lucie will welcome some new faces around the spring training facility joining the 2020 NY Mets as they go for their first NL East title since 2015. Replacing the departure of Zack Wheeler will be a combo of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha signed via free agency to lock up one of the best starting rotations in MLB, which they will need in baseball’s toughest division.  

 

New York ranked top 10 in many of the offensive categories but was limited in success by the bullpens ability to hold leads and finish their opponents late. Welcome one of the bigger risk-reward scenarios of the MLB offseason, as the Mets inked local breakout star and former Yankee Dellin Betances who has been hampered by injury over the last couple seasons. When healthy, Betances is an All-Star back of the bullpen arm and flourishes in the NYC sports market as a local Dominican product from Washington Heights.  

 

Prior to his injury that ended the 2019 season before it even started for Betances, he went on a five year tear putting up a 2.31 ERA in 349 appearances, striking out an impressive 607 strikeouts which led to four consecutive All Star appearances. Only one year removed from such consistent production the Mets are getting a steal of a bargain on a guy who can not only be a top set up man, but could easily step into the closing role for NY should Edwin Diaz continue to look shakey and ineffective at the end of games. 

 

Las Vegas oddsmakers have predicted a third place finish for NY behind the World Champion Washington Nationals and the Joe Girardi led Philadelphia Phillies at +325. Following a season where the Mets finished 10 games over .500, featured the Cy Young, NL Rookie of the Year and a batting title threat in Jacob deGrom, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil respectively, the Mets look to improve on their pitching production and limit the bullpens importance to the outcome of games which was relied on too much last season. If the Mets can figure out how to win games late and capitalize on the production of their outstanding young lineup, New York could be looking at a Wildcard or better come October.