Sale of Mets to Cohen is approved
The Wilpon family's control of the Mets neared its end after 34 years when Major League Baseball owners voted Friday to approve the sale of the team to billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen.
The transfer from the Wilpon and Katz families values the franchise at between $2.4 billion and $2.45 billion, a record for a baseball team that tops the $2 billion sale of the Dodgers from Frank McCourt to Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012. The Mets sale is likely to close within 10 days. Cohen pledged to inject about $9.5 million in additional payments this offseason for pandemic-hit employees.
“I am humbled that MLB's owners have approved me to be the next owner of the New York Mets,” Cohen said in a statement. “Owning a team is a great privilege and an awesome responsibility.”
An entity controlled by Cohen will own 95% of the franchise, and the Wilpon and Katz families will retain 5% of the team.
Former Mets general manager Sandy Alderson will return as team president.
Golf: Ryan Armour and Wyndham Clark survived ferocious wind Friday in the Bermuda Championship to share the lead going into the weekend. The 44-year-old Armour from Ohio still managed three early birdies and another on the par-5 17th for a 1-under 70. Clark played in the afternoon and reached 10-under par until a pair of late bogeys for a 68. They were at 8-under 134, one shot ahead of Kramer Hickok (68). ... Playing his fourth event since revealing he's fighting bladder cancer, John Daly shot an 8-under 64 on Friday for a share of the lead with Jim
Furyk in the PGA Tour Champions' TimberTech Champions. Daly had his lowest score in his five-year career on the 50-and-over tour. The two-time major champion won his lone Champions title in 2017. “Just tired all the time, just something the doc told me I'd be,” Daly said. “Trying to drink the right stuff, but it's hard to take Diet Coke away from me. I was proud of myself, I only smoked six cigarettes today. Usually I smoke about a pack-and-a-half.”
MLB: The Rangers declined the $18 million contract option on right-hander Corey Kluber, who lasted just one inning in his only start before a shoulder injury ended his season. ... The Rays are declining options on pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Mike Zunino, but the Rays remain hopeful of re-signing them. ... Jon Lester's $25 million mutual option for 2021 was declined by the Cubs, completing a $155 million, six-year contract and allowing the 36-year-old left-hander to become a free agent. ... The Indians have declined options on Brad Hand, first baseman Carlos Santana and outfielder Domingo Santana.
NASCAR: Michael Jordan expects to field a winning team when 23XI Racing begins NASCAR competition next season. The first move toward victory lane came in a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota.
NFL: The Saints have ruled out receivers Michael Thomas and Marquez Callaway for Sunday's game in Chicago. ... Linebacker Todd Davis tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, a league source said, but the Vikings are proceeding as scheduled for Sunday's game in Green Bay.