The New York Mets are one step closer to having a new owner. With Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez withdrawing their bid to buy the team, billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen has reemerged as the top candidate to buy the franchise from the Wilpon family.
Fred Wilpon has owned the New York franchise since 1986 and took over full control in 2002. Cohen and the Wilpons seemed close to a deal roughly two years ago but that deal fell apart at the last minute when Cohen wouldn’t agree to keep Jeff Wilpon, Fred’s son, as the Chief Operating Officer for five years.