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Finally, the savior will speak.
Steve Cohen, who officially finalized his $ 2.475 billion purchase of the Mets from the Wilpons on Friday, will hold a Zoom press conference on Tuesday with his new team president, Sandy Alderson (who of course worked as the 2010 Mets general manager. to 2018). This will be the first time Cohen has spoken publicly about his successful (albeit labyrinthine) pursuit of the team he cheered for when he was young.
The Post will be allowed to ask some questions of Cohen and Alderson, but not all. So as a public service to our competitors, here are the questions that should be asked of the Mets new power duo.
Questions to Steve Cohen
1. We haven’t heard from you in this saga, which has been around for almost a year, other than a few published statements and recent tweets. Could you explain all of this to us from your perspective? Could you share your feelings when the first deal broke down in February? What reopened the door a few months later? How essential was it that there was no transitional period during which the Wilpons stay and continue to exert their influence?
2. How concerned were you about getting enough votes from other owners? You announced prior to this vote that you would appoint Sandy Alderson to chair your team if you took over. Did you time this ad in the hopes that it would increase your chances of approval?
3. How successful will you be as an owner? How much autonomy will you give Alderson and his deputies?
4. Biggest, proper batting in the lineup: what do you think your 2021 payroll will be and how will it increase beyond next season? Have you discussed your vision for payroll with the property committee, especially with regards to fears of spending significantly more than your competition given the immensity of your personal wealth compared to theirs? Have you ever personally contacted free agents? How will the COVID uncertainty surrounding next season factor into your payroll decisions?
5. How did you become a fan of the Mets? What is your favorite memory as a Mets fan and what is your worst memory? What does owning this particular team mean?
6. What do you think of Citi Field? Do you want to change it in any way?
7. As a Mets shareholder for nearly a decade, what about the franchise that you think needs the biggest overhaul? What do you think is the greatest strength of the Mets that you don’t intend to change?
8. Have you watched “Billions” and if you have (of course!), How similar are you to your fictional counterpart, Bobby Axelrod?
9. On that note, more seriously, a Major League Baseball team acts like a public trust in a way that a hedge fund does not. Your previous fund has pleaded guilty to insider trading and your current fund has been charged with discrimination. How do you intend to lead the Mets in such a way as to avoid such quagmires and position yourself instead as community leaders?
10. Out of the fall, you engaged a lot with Mets fans on Twitter. Do you intend to maintain this direct line of communication?
11. Do you want to buy SNY?
12. You have been characterized as someone in the business world who enjoys taking risk and who values it in your employees as well. Are you also considering highlighting this value with the Mets?
Questions to Sandy Alderson
1. How do you plan to structure Mets baseball operations and how vital is previous experience to the high level position? What prompted you to fire the entire upper level of the Mets’ baseball operations department?
2. What is the status of manager Luis Rojas?
3. You wrote Michael Conforto and now he’s a year away from free will. Are you going to talk with him and his agent Scott Boras about a possible extra time before the start of next season?
4. You got to know Carlos Beltran a bit before you traded him for Zack Wheeler. You know what has happened between Beltran and the Mets over the past year. Would you like to bring it back into the organization?
5. Now that you have more control than in your last Mets round, what do you think the Mets need to change the most to make them long-lasting contenders like the Yankees and Dodgers, and how do you change that?
6. To what extent did your previous experience with the Mets influence your decision to return? Do you see this as an opportunity to finish the job you started?
7. You are now in charge of Mets business operations. How do you plan to split your time between baseball operations and business operations?
8. What is the status of the hitter designated by minor league outfielder Tim Tebow?
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