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Mets COO Jeff Wilpon is not involved in talks with suitors about selling the team after complicating a prior sale agreement with Steve Cohen, sources told The Post. “Jeff’s not been involved at all,” a source close to one of the bidding groups said. “Jeff has divorced himself from the sales process,” a second source …
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon is not involved in talks with suitors about selling the team after complicating a prior sale agreement with Steve Cohen, sources told The Post.
“Jeff’s not been involved at all,” a source close to one of the bidding groups said.
“Jeff has divorced himself from the sales process,” a second source said.
Mets controlling owner Fred Wilpon and his investment partner Saul Katz, along with their investment banker and lawyers, are representing the Mets at the meetings. Jeff, Fred’s son, is not involved.
The three main bidding groups vying for the team — slight-favorite Steve Cohen; a team led by Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez and Vinnie Viola; and the team of 76ers and Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer — are expected to make final bids on Monday.
The presence of Katz makes it seem that for the Mets this will be about getting the most money and assuring the certainty of closing the deal, and less about who they might prefer to see owning the team, sources said.
Both Cohen and the A-Rod group are expected to offer more than $2 billion for the Mets, who in a normal season are losing nearly $100 million, sources said.
As The Post reported at the time, Cohen’s prior $2.6 billion bid for the Mets fell apart in February after he was informed by Fred and Jeff Wilpon that the family wanted Jeff to maintain total operational control of the Mets during a five-year transition period between the ownership groups. Cohen balked entirely when Jeff also made it clear he expected to have a senior role within the organization and retain his title of COO, his salary and even perks like a private plane after Cohen took over.
This time there is no transition period, and Jeff Wilpon will not be retaining a management position.
By all accounts, the relationship between Jeff Wilpon and Cohen was a flashpoint in the implosion of the February talks and has not improved since.
“Keeping Jeff away from the bidders seems like common sense at this point,” one source familiar with the process said. “That’s especially true when it comes to Cohen.”
Jeff Wilpon, speaking about the sale, told The Post in a written statement, “We won’t be giving details or updates on the timeline or process until we are prepared to make a public announcement.”
