New Mets Owner Cohen: 'I'm Not In This To Be Mediocre'; Alderson: Manager Rojas 'Very Likely' To Return
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Mets owner Steve Cohen is thinking big.
"If I don't win a World Series in the next three to five years -- I'd like to make it sooner -- then obviously I would consider that slightly disappointing," Cohen said Tuesday on a virtual chat with reporters during his formal introduction as the franchise's new owner.
Mets fans had to be drooling over that statement. Not only do they now have the richest owner in Major League Baseball, they get one of their own. Cohen, who purchased the team from the Wilpon and Katz families, has been a diehard fan since 1963.
"I'm essentially doing this for the fans. When I really thought about this, I can make millions of people happy. What an incredible opportunity that is. And so, that's how I'm thinking about this. I'm not trying to make money here," Cohen said. "I'm not in this to be mediocre. That's just not my thing. I want something great and I know the fans want something great, so that's my goal and thats what I'm gonna do."
But there is a fine line between being a huge fan and a successful baseball team owner.
"How do you separate in your decision-making being a fan and also being a businessman? Because some owners can become emotional and go out and make changes that they feel are necessary," CBS2's Otis Livingston asked.
"I can only tell you the way I run my business at Point72 and I'm very measured and calm and I try to be very thoughtful about things. I think impulsive decisions tend not to work," Cohen said.
"I'm the new guy at the table here all right, so I have a lot to learn. So that's why I need to surround myself with real professionals," Cohen added.
Cohen was actually the inspiration for the fictional character Bobby Axelrod on the Showtime drama "Billions." Cohen said he will definItely spend to make improvements, but will spend his billions wisely.
"I can promise you that, like I said, we'll act like a major market team. But are we gonna act like drunken sailors in the marketplace? No," he said.
So What's The Deal With The Manager?
Luis Rojas probably will return for a second season, new team president Sandy Alderson said during the virtual chat.
The veteran executive said he had spoken with Rojas several teams in recent days, adding it's "very likely" Rojas will remain but added that he "left the door slightly ajar" pending his decision on a new president of baseball operations.
Alderson fired general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and his top aides Friday.
Cohen said Monday that he hoped to reinstate Old Timers' Day, which was dropped more than a decade ago.
MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK
- Election 2020: Thousands Of Absentee Ballots Just Starting To Be Counted Could Decide Close Races Across New York
- Cuomo Says Managing Infection Rate Will Be Critical As New York's Coronavirus Numbers Climb
- Sources: Bodies Of 2 Babies Found Wrapped In Paper Behind Bronx Building
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here.
