The first significant decision for your new Mets boss-in-waiting will be picking who should oversee baseball operations.
Steve Cohen's transition into Mets owner won't become official until next month at the first, when MLB owners vote to the $2.4 billion transaction that would leave the hedge fund billionaire because the franchise's control person. But it's also likely that vote will not occur until the quarterly owners' meetings in November. Cohen will require 23 of 29 votes.
The Wilpon and Katz families will relinquish their voices on organizational matters, but less clear is if general manager Brodie Van Wagenen will keep control of baseball operations.
According to sources, Van Wagenen and Cohen have spoken on many occasions since last winter, when Cohen, a minority partner, first entered exclusive negotiations to get the team. That deal never materialized, however, since team COO Jeff Wilpon's possible role in the new regime became a sticking point. Cohen, as part of the feeling-out process, also must know key members of Van Wagenen's leading office. Cohen had a previous relationship with senior adviser Omar Minaya, a longtime friend.
The Post reported in January the Van Wagenen desired Cohen's input selecting a managerial replacement for Carlos Beltran, who stepped aside after his function in the Astros' prohibited sign-stealing scheme was revealed. But Cohen didn't wish to become involved in the moment, preferring to determine how Van Wagenen handled the situation. Van Wagenen finally promoted from inside, elevating quality control coach Luis Rojas into the position.
The source indicated there is a sense of optimism among Van Wagenen's employees that Cohen will provide this front office at least into next season before contemplating changes. That especially holds true if Cohen is not approved before November, when teams are already formulating offseason strategy. But if Cohen were accepted in October, his deadline would be tight to put in a new front office.The expectation is Cohen would hire a team president to oversee the daily operations of the club. Those responsibilities are presently managed by Jeff Wilpon.One possibility until a group president is hired, is Cohen would allow Van Wagenen to record directly to him. If Cohen's purchase of the team happened months earlier, Van Wagenen would be less likely to return.
Van Wagenen, a former agent, became Mets general manager in October 2018 after a search that started with Sandy Alderson's resignation the preceding June. Under Van Wagenen, who received a four-year arrangement, the Mets missed the playoffs last season, completing 86-76.
Unless the Mets, who lost 4-1 to the Phillies on Tuesday, get sexy over these final 11 games, they'll again miss the playoffs, even in an expanded format which will include eight teams from each league.
Those results hardly yell "job security," however Van Wagenen might have the calendar on his side.
"A new GM is going to have to come in and get his people in place, he's going to have to figure out what is where," the source stated. "[Cohen] is going to be replacing Jeff's work. Steve isn't going to come and do this himself."
