Bidding to purchase the Mets now is "basically down to" hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen and the Alex Rodriguez-Jennifer Lopez group, according to sources cited by Thornton McEnery of the N.Y. POST. All remaining potential buyers have received an "up-close look at the Mets financial picture." One source described it as “gory.” So much so, sources said that after "seeing how deep the holes are on the team’s balance sheet," the group led by 76ers and Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer has "decided to offer an amount it knows to be lower than the other parties." As for the Rodriguez-Lopez group, sources said that the couple is "confident it can come very close to what Cohen is offering, thanks in large part to their close and growing relationship with senior players in JPMorgan Chase’s private bank division." One Wall Street source said, "The money is there. JP Morgan will make sure of that.” Sources also confirmed that the Wilpons will retain 5% of the team "in any deal," which is a "reality of the process since the team went back up for sale and will have no material impact on the size of the final bids," due Aug. 31. The source added Cohen is "going to offer the most for this team." A spokesperson for Cohen "declined comment" (N.Y. POST, 8/18).
