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New York Mets owner and CEO Steve Cohen spoke to SNY’s Steve Gelbs on Wednesday, touching on a number of topics in the Long Island native’s first public one-on-one interview since taking the reins of organization.
Out of the gate, Cohen remarked on his shock at the team’s unsuccessful search process for a president of baseball operations.
“I’m a little surprised that we weren’t able to find people for the front office,” Cohen said. “I thought it would be a little easier than it was. Baseball is funny enough where you have to ask permission and everything, and we don’t get a lot of permission for whatever reasons.
“We have a plan B. [Sandy Alderson] will run baseball operations and we are looking for a general manager, ”he told Gelbs. “It’s like that – you have to be flexible. I feel very comfortable with Sandy in this role […] I am very grateful that he is with me.
As for the team’s continued quest to improve the squad composition this offseason, Cohen has kept his cards hidden but has not been shy about expressing the team’s mentality this winter.
“We talk to everyone […] There are a lot of unknowns, but we have conversations with everyone that matters – anyone who fills fans with passion – and I hope something happens, but I’m not going to predict it.
“As I realized at the front office, you can have all these great deals and want to do something, so you have to be able to switch to ‘what if you don’t get it’ […] You have to be flexible. ”
“The goal is to build a great team. We already have a good core, but we have holes. I’m not sure if we can fill all of our holes in the first year – that might be asking a lot – but I think we can make significant improvements to get closer to where we want to be.
The 64-year-old Great Neck, Long Island native reiterated his desire to build a consistent winner, and it was unequivocal.
“You need to provide your employees with the best resources you can give them so they have the tools they need to be successful. […] you must have talent, ”he said. “The point is, you want to make New York – the New York Mets – a place where the players want to go. You want them to come for a number of reasons, not just a check. “
With a slowly growing, well-stocked free agent market, Cohen has expressed patience in the process, knowing that in the end the team will do whatever they can to achieve their goals.
“I want to stick to my philosophy here. If we have the opportunity to choose ball players who meet our needs in a logical way and don’t get in the way for the next five years, this is something we will entertain.
As for the uncharted territory of so many talented players available this offseason due to the league’s economic downturn in 2020, Cohen seemed confident the Mets could do that work in their favor.
“I think we can take advantage of the climate in which a lot of teams are trying to cut spending,” he said. “I think we can get baseball players at prices that maybe in a normal year we couldn’t get.”
As always, keep it locked to Metsmerized for continued coverage of all Mets Hot Stove news.
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