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Yesterday afternoon, MLB owners approved the sale of the New York Mets to hedge fund manager Steve Cohen. The purchase makes Cohen the wealthiest owner in the majors, and Mets fans reveled at the news online.
Mike Piazza is excited:
Very Excited for this next chapter in @Mets history. This is a special day for all of us. Looking forward to the future with pride and optimism. Mr. Cohen, you have my full support and gratitude. Looking forward to seeing you all at @CitiField next year!#LGM
— Mike Piazza (@mikepiazza31) October 30, 2020
Local writers reacted:
Mark it down -- Oct. 30, 2020, one of the most significant days in franchise history. The Wilpon era is over. The Mets have a new owner, Steve Cohen.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 30, 2020
#Mets now officially have the richest owner in #MLB with Steve Cohen’s approval today.
— David Lennon (@DPLennon) October 30, 2020
Incredible sentence, really.
Official and historic: Steve Cohen has been approved by MLB owners as the new principal Mets owner, per a source.
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) October 30, 2020
Jeff Passan and Noah Syndergaard made jokes:
mets fans rn pic.twitter.com/3FnsXMCjBP
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 30, 2020
Noah Syndergaard tells The Post: “All I plead is that the new owner treats players and personnel in the organization like people and less like expendable commodities. That being said, I couldn’t be more excited having the real life Bobby Axelrod leading the charge.”
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) October 30, 2020
Cohen gave an update through a statement:
As his first act as Mets owner, Steve Cohen says in a statement that he plans to donate $17.5 million to NYC small businesses, and "dramatically increase the giving of the Mets Foundation in the coming years."
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 30, 2020
He is also reinstituting all pre-pandemic salaries for Mets workers.
As part of Cohen’s statement: All Mets employees, including unionized groundskeepers, security guards and engineers, will receive reinstituted pre-pandemic salaries as of November 1, reversing the 5-30% salary cut implemented in March. The value of this commitment is over $7M
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 30, 2020
People started with their requests:
I’m going to ask for a bigger booth. How about you? https://t.co/imAewbOzJ3
— Howie Rose (@HowieRose) October 30, 2020
If he wants to pack Citi Field again, this is the time for Steve Cohen to commit to bringing the fans in Queens exactly what they want and deserve, and what previous ownership failed to provide: Sweet Potato Ty’s.
— Ty Kelly (@tykelly11) October 30, 2020
Do the right thing, Steve. For the fans. #LFGM
And there was a whole lot of this:
— Andrew (@metsno1fan) October 30, 2020
— Jeffrey Laufer (@jeffreylaufer) October 30, 2020
— Gabe Miller (@gmiller_92) October 30, 2020
The Mets will enter this year’s winter meetings as one of the most interesting teams in the game, with a solid core of players that contributed to the top offense in the National League, a two-time Cy Young Award winner at the top of the rotation, and now the richest owner in baseball, who just happens to be a lifelong Mets fan.
While it remains unclear if Cohen will spend money on talent this offseason as his initial investment indicates, many Mets fans rejoiced for one reason alone: The Wilpon era in Queens has concluded. And thus begins the Cohen era.