Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: so this is what a busy off-season looks like

Are the Mets Being Sold?

The answer?  Technically yes, though the buyer already owns a stake.  Fred Wilpon isn’t going away for another 5 years, but minority owner Steve Cohen is apparently ready to assume an 80% controlling stake in the club.

This report essentially places a value on the Mets franchise of $2.6 billion.

What this means is likely more spending in the long run, and an end to an ownership that was seen as ‘penny pinching’… despite having a payroll that ranked roughly 10th overall in the majors.

The report suggested that the contrast could have been felt on Wednesday, had Cohen already been in place.

While Wilpon did not wish to match the $118 million guarantee that Zack Wheeler got on Wednesday from the Phillies, Cohen – who was involved in a failed bid for the Dodgers in 2012 – is characterized as someone who would want to stay competitive with the like of the Yankees and those same Dodgers.

He might not lose such bidding wars in the future.

So things may be changing at CitiField.  Add to that the fact that the Washington Nationals may be starting to see light at the end of their lawsuit with the Orioles over MASN Network rights fees and it becomes all the more important from a competitive point of view that the Atlanta Braves find ways to continue working their own payroll to new heights.

Undoubtedly, Atlanta’s spending for 2020 will see record levels – they already have committed something in the neighborhood of $137 million – but it appears that 3 teams in this NL East division could have the capability of hitting $200+ million real soon (and 2 are already there).