Mets News and Breakfast Links - 12/5/2019

I was all set to start this off with how Zack Wheeler signed with the Phillies for 5 years and $118 million. 

Then, the big story, the Wilpons are taking steps to sell the Mets to billionaire Steve Cohen.  Per the NY Post, “As part of the agreement, Wilpon will remain as control person and CEO for five years. Team COO Jeff Wilpon (who is Fred’s son) will also continue in his role for five years. After that period — or perhaps sooner — it’s expected, according to a source, that both Wilpons will be removed from the daily operations of the team.”

Not sure why the 5 year transition but the NY Post had that Fans were celebrating the move.

Forbs.com says “Why would anybody buying a majority stake in a dysfunctional business allow the folks who ran it dysfunctionally for years keep running it?”  I tend to agree.

The Mets Police has his own unique spin on the story including googling Steve Cohen.

Mets Daddy thinks that Zack Wheeler leaving is a great day because the Wilpons sold the Mets.  “The Mets went from the Wilpons who are not billionaires to someone who is the richest owner in baseball.”

A friend close to prospective Mets owner Steve Cohen told The Post’s Mike Puma that Cohen “will play the game at the highest level” in regards to spending on players.

Mike Vaccaro says that “Steve Cohen’s looming Mets takeover changes everything.”  Mike included a quote from Fred Wilpon when Fred and Nelson Doubleday bought the team: “ ’I’ll do whatever is necessary to bring the fans a winner,” the 43-year-old Wilpon said into every camera lens at the old Diamond Club, up on Shea Stadium’s press level. ‘We will spend whatever is necessary to see a World Series flag flying over Shea Stadium in the ’80s.’ ”

So I am a little skeptical that the move changes everything even though Joel Sherman says: “Steve Cohen is Mets’ godsend that ‘should bother the Yankees”.

The NY Post also says Steve Cohen is a free spender who hates to lose.  “a huge modern art collector with a penchant for setting records at auctions. Just this May, he set a new record for a living artist when he forked over $91 million at auction for a Jeff Koons bunny sculpture.”

Go trade and then sign Mookie Betts.  Sign Cole or Starsburg, eat the Cano contract, eat the Lowrie contract, and I may believe you.  Start emphasizing fundamentals throughout your organization and don’t fire the Managers like Fonzie that instill those qualities.  Until then, it’s business as usual. 

Yahoo Sports said that Mets fans shouldn’t celebrate just yet.  “The 63-year-old Cohen has been involved in some less than savory business dealings over the years. His investment firm, Point72 Asset Management, had a lawsuit filed against it alleging gender discrimination. Cohen was also the founder of S.A.C., a hedge fund that pleaded guilty to engaging in insider trading.”

The Mets Police sees a long 5 years waiting for the transition to be completed.  4 years of no signings.

Mets Daddy thinks that $100 million is a discount for Zack Wheeler.  As always Mets Daddy makes some great points: “Over the last two years, Wheeler has averaged 30 starts and 188.2 innings…While his 60 starts over the past two years rank 32nd in the majors, tying him with Max Scherzer and Mike Minor, his 377.2 innings pitched are 12th most in the majors. That’s roughly 6.1 innings per start.”

John Harper of SNY.TV says the Mets need to build bullpen depth to justify moving Lugo to the rotation.

SNY.TV says there is mutual interest between the Mets and Rick Porcello. 

Mets 360 weighs in on the giving up a pre-arb player to get a salary dump.  They talk further about a bad contract for bad contract trade such as the potential J.D. Davis, Jeurys Familia, & prospects for Lorenzo Cain and Josh Hader.  At least they get a Center Fielder in this one though “Cain dropped off considerably last year and is owed $51 million over the next three seasons”.

Meanwhile, J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo were spreading holiday cheer at the Mets Holiday party at Citi Field.

MLB.com reminisced about Benny Agbayani becoming a Met.

Faith and Fear in Flushing continues the top 100 Mets of the 2010 decade, numbers 70-61.  Number 70, Eric Campbell, and Number 67, Hansel Robles. 

The Braves signed Cole Hamels to a one year $18 million contract.

Sports Illustrated looks how the Wheeler and Hamels moves impact the division.

In the Dominican Republic last night, none of the three current Mets pitchers on the Toros Del Este, Chris Mazza, Tyler Bashlor and Daniel Zamora, pitched in the 8-3 Toros win. 

Ex Met Jonathan Niese started his first game of the winter for Aguilas Cibaenas and pitched 4 shutout innings giving up 2 hits, 4 walks with 3 Ks.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Al Moran (1938)
• Dave Hudgens (1956)
• Cliff Floyd (1972)

Transactions:

Seattle Mariners drafted Rick Baldwin from the Mets on December 5, 1977.

New York Mets traded Tom Grieve and Kim Seaman to the St. Louis Cardinals for Pete Falcone on December 5, 1978.

Mets drafted Mike Howard from the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 5, 1978.

New York Mets traded John Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras to the Baltimore Orioles for Keith Hughes and Cesar Mejia on December 5, 1989.

New York Mets signed free agent Vince Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals on December 5, 1990.

Toronto Blue Jays signed Pat Tabler of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1990.

Mets drafted Kevin Lomon from the Atlanta Braves on December 5, 1994.

Mets drafted Shawn Hare from the San Diego Padres on December 5, 1994.

Mets drafted Jason Hardtke from the San Diego Padres on December 5, 1994.

Florida Marlins signed Joe Orsulak of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1995.

Los Angeles Dodgers signed Orel Hershiser of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1999.

New York Mets signed free agent Brett Hinchliffe on December 5, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves on December 5, 2002.

New York Mets traded Gaby Hernandez and Dante Brinkley to the Florida Marlins for Paul Lo Duca on December 5, 2005.

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