Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
With the season finally set to kick off at 7 p.m. Monday night in Philadelphia, Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson held a joint press conference ahead of tonight’s game.
The duo discussed a range of topics from the Francisco Lindor contract, educating players on COVID-19 vaccines, what’s it’s been like owning and running the Mets and more. Let’s get into the headlines of the press conference below.
Francisco Lindor’s Deal
The biggest story since the team’s last press conference was signing Francisco Lindor to a 10-year contract extension, which was officially announced by the team today.
Ultimately, Cohen said, he wanted to get the deal done and was able to once Lindor and his agent moved off their original asking price (reported to be 12 years and $385 million). Once that was done, the Cohen, Alderson, Lindor and his agent, David Meter, were able to come to an agreement.
“Francisco is a special guy and deserved a special contract,” Cohen said, noting that he and Lindor have become “good friends” and text often.
Cohen also said Alex Cohen helped build a strong connection between he and Lindor, especially because Lindor’s and Alex Cohen’s family are from the same home town in Puerto Rico. Mrs. Cohen also established a relationship with Lindor’s fiancée, too, to help her get acclimated with New York City.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Mets players will be able to start getting vaccinated when they return home Thursday ahead of the team’s first series at Citi Field.
When asked about the vaccines and recent comments from players like J.D. Davis and Michael Conforto about taking the vaccine, Alderson said the organization wants to make sure the team is well educated on the topic when coming to a decision.
“We want to encourage our players, and everyone, to get vaccinated,” Alderson said. He also revealed the team will be educated on the vaccines by an independent medical staff while in Philadelphia, and he stressed that getting as many players vaccinated is in the best interest of the players, their families and the people who work with the players.
“There has been hesitation,” Alderson acknowledged when asked of players’ reluctance, “and that’s why we set up education.”
Alderson said he himself was vaccinated recently, and he hopes his players do too for the sake of public health.
Contract Extensions & Free Agency
We’ve known since his original press conference that the new Mets owner would be willing to spend big money in free agency. That was proven when the Mets were in on nine-figure deals for guys like Trevor Bauer and George Springer (though they chose to sign elsewhere).
Cohen reiterated, though, what will continue to be music to Mets fans’ ears: “We’re going to be significant players for free agents down the road and we’re going to act like a major-market club.”
He brought up the “not spending like drunken sailors” comment again, but he’s also made clear with how the offseason was handled that he’s willing to spend big year after year.
This includes for impending free agents.
Alderson said they’ve had conversations with Michael Conforto’s agent (“brief, but cordial“) as well as Noah Syndergaard, and he’d like to keep as many players on the current roster as possible–especially the homegrown talent.
Cohen also added that as he gets into more and more negotiations as owner, agents will get to know his style (a.k.a. he means what he says and offers fair deals), hoping to avoid any “last minute fire drills” like with the Lindor contract.
Community Engagement and Anti-Asian Violence
The duo was asked by Bradford Davis of the New York Daily News what the Mets have done in connection with the Asian-American communities around Citi Field following the team’s statement about the “despicable” (as Cohen put it) anti-Asian hate crimes that have been on an increase the last year-plus.
Cohen said the team would take the lead of city and state officials on how to help the community, and Alderson said the organization has “affinity groups” within the organization–one being Asian Americans–that have helped the organization identify local leaders to reach out to. Alderson called it a “very active issue” for the team.
Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
Other News and Notes
Alderson said the team has yet to pick up Luis Rojas‘ 2022 option as manager, though that’s expected as the team analyzes what he can do for a full season.
The team president also called the team’s analytics department “unrecognizable” due to how big it’s gotten since Cohen took over. He said they’ve had assets from Cohen’s Point72 hedge fund as well as an increase in full-time analytics employees. Last week, Tim Britton reported the team had 16 analysts with plans to hire four more.
Cohen will be watching his first game as owner tonight from home, but he plans to be in his downstair suite at Citi Field interacting with fans for his first home game on Thursday.
When asked about the commissioner’s decision to move the All-Star game out of Atlanta, Cohen said, “I know the commissioner made a well-considered decision, and I respect that.”
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