Brodie praises soon-to-be new owner,
Brodie Van Wagenen hasn’t spoken to Steven Cohen since the Wilpons made the transaction official, but the GM sure hopes the Mets’ next majority owner heard his sweet talk loud and clear.
Van Wagenen only had charming and flowery descriptions of Steve Cohen and the way he runs a business during a 25-minute Zoom press conference Friday before the Mets hosted the Braves. The hedge-fund billionaire officially agreed to purchase the Mets on Monday. Four days later, Van Wagenen was hounded with questions about the upcoming transfer of power, which is still subject to the approval of 23 out of 29 MLB owners, and the GM maintained his focus is on the Amazin’s current last-ditch effort to make the playoffs.
But that doesn’t mean Van Wagenen isn’t at least excited, or curious, about what his future with the organization and Cohen will hold.
“We had a chance to get to know each other a little bit and talk about some ideas and philosophies,” said the GM on his interaction with Cohen.
Van Wagenen said he spoke to Cohen in the offseason and the conversation was “top line” because the deal for Cohen to take over as majority owner and control person was not yet made official. But from what Van Wagenen gathered in that discussion, he believes Cohen is the right person for the job.
“He’s competitive,” Van Wagenen said. “I know he’s historically believed in investing in the infrastructure of his organizations and his intellectual capital of the people that work for him. With that mindset, if he carries that over to the team that I know he’s had a long-term passion for, I think it’s an opportunity for the organization to go in a progressive way.”
Cohen was in negotiations with the Wilpons in December to purchase the team, but the deal fell apart over Fred and Jeff Wilpon’s desire to retain their respective titles of CEO and COO and remain in control for five more years. That aspect is no longer included in Cohen’s current agreement to buy the Mets.
Van Wagenen indicated he does not think about his nearfuture job security under the Cohen regime. But he also hasn’t received any assurances from Cohen that Van Wagenen will keep his title as general manager. Van Wagenen signed a four-year deal worth $10 million with the Mets in 2018. The career swap meant taking a massive pay cut.