Jun 28, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
(London) – The New York Mets, well under .500, are one of the worst teams in all of Major League Baseball.
At least, that’s according to their poor record, and the thus-far less than inspiring brand of baseball they’ve played. But team owner Steve Cohen – who hails from the financial world and knows all about the up and down natures of markets, assets, and individual performance – he’s not giving up on 2024 just yet.
While fans and pundits alike have already declared the Mets “sellers” at the deadline, Cohen is thinking like an investor. “
We’re nine games under .500, and that’s certainly not what we expected and what we hoped for. I do think the team is starting to play better, starting to hit. I’m staring to see green shoots,” Cohen explained, alluding to terminology used when there’s positive signs amid an otherwise bleak economic period.
“We’ve got a long way to go, and a lot can happen over a relatively short period of time. We’re going to keep plugging, and I think our schedule gets a little easier, so there are opportunities to gain ground. So, we’ll see what happens.”
Cohen says struggles much like the team’s had through the first two months-plus are part of life. “It’s the variability of human performance. You can write it on paper but then you have to play the games. Frankly, we haven’t really put it all together for a consistent period of time,” Cohen admitted.
“I still think that can happen. There are a lot of good ballplayers on this club, and it’s just a question of getting a little confidence, getting on a run, and listen, I think that’s possible. … We’ll see what it looks like four-to-six weeks from now, but I still feel this team has got a good run in them, a lot of good players. I think the locker room is good, the culture’s good, so I’m hopeful.”
July 30th is the looking date on the calendar when the Mets will have to either make their move or admit defeat. That is the trade deadline – and if New York isn’t near or above .500 – chances are many of the veterans on short term deals will be traded. Maybe even Pete Alonso, one of the best sluggers in Mets history who is on the cusp of free agency.
Cohen’s not thinking about any of those potential trades at the moment. “I’m focused on winning games right now. We can worry about the trade deadline, it’s seven weeks away,” Cohen observed. “That’s 45 maybe 50 games, and a lot can happen, so I’m focused right now on the season, winning games, and we’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
