Prospective Mets minority equity partner David Einhorn said today he is not concerned with Owner Fred Wilpon's recent comments on the team bleeding cash, and added he anticipates a turnaround for the franchise both fiscally and competitively on the field. "I expect the financial fortunes [of the team] to improve," Einhorn said. "I'm very comfortable with where we're headed. In fact, I'm excited."
Einhorn declined to discuss elements of his $200M investment or club operations in any significant detail. But said he quickly struck a strong relationship with Wilpon and gave high marks to GM Sandy Alderson. "He strikes me as a first-rate executive. … I think he's fantastic," he said. "As long we stay under his leadership, the Mets will end up in a good direction."
Einhorn intends the investment to be a long-term play, he will have no control over team operations, and said that his reputation as a short seller and noted corporate critic at Greenlight Capital is greatly overstated. "We do more on the long side [at Greenlight], and we own much more than we short," he said. The Mets deal, however, is strictly a personal investment for him, and has nothing to do with Greenlight. Einhorn did confirm that the deal does not include any interest in SNY. "I have no interest in owning a TV station. … That was never part of our negotiations."
