MLB Feels Wilpons Negotiated in Good Faith as Steve Cohen Tried to Drive Price Down Late in Mets Deal
By Scott Rogust
On Tuesday, the New York Knicks solidified their role as a dysfunctional franchise after they fired team president Steve Mills days before the NBA Trade Deadline.
The New York Mets, however, told the Knicks to hold their proverbial beer, as reports indicated that the team's eventual sale to Steve Cohen was suddenly on life support. The early rumblings indicated that Jeff and Fred Wilpon botched the deal late in negotiations by asking to retrieve rights to SNY.
Major League Baseball disagrees with that assessment.
SNY's Andy Martino spoke to MLB sources, who said the deal fell apart not over the Wilpons' five-year transition plan. Rather, it had to do with Cohen trying to drive the price down after the Mets side thought an agreement was in place.
MLB — non-Mets — sources with knowledge of Cohen negotiation say it wasn’t the 5 year transition at issue. That was done deal in writing months ago. There is some thought Cohen was trying to drive down price late. MLB feels Wilpons negotiated in good faith.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) February 6, 2020
Martino continued by saying that, while the deal appears to be over with, "Stranger things have happened than a revival of negotiations."
According to the New York Times, the disagreement arose due to the Wilpon family's desire to maintain control of the team and the ability to oversee the payroll over Cohen.
Rob Manfred on the Steve Cohen Mets deal "Right now, my belief is there is not going to be a transaction" https://t.co/ckClDTIl0b pic.twitter.com/KycWw82fIR
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 6, 2020
Earlier on Thursday, commissioner Rob Manfred said that while nothing is confirmed, his belief is that the Mets transaction won't go through.
This saga has sent Mets fans into a whirlwind, with all of them developing migraines and a desire for an alcoholic beverage. While it's not set in stone, the Wilpon era appears to be far from over in Queens.