#Brodie Van Wagenen upbeat about Steve Cohen owning Mets

Brodie Van Wagenen has not spoken with potential incoming owner Steve Cohen since the hedge fund billionaire’s announced intention to buy the Mets, and not at all since a cursory talk last winter.

The Mets’ general manager is looking at the expected transition from the Wilpon family to Cohen as “an opportunity” for him and the franchise, but he’s solely focusing on the remainder of 2020 while $2.4 billion sale awaits MLB approval.

“So far, [nothing has changed] on a day-to-day [basis], but this point, obviously the difference now is that there has been an announcement,” Van Wagenen said during a Zoom call before the Mets’ 15-2 blowout loss to the Braves on Friday. “I think there is enthusiasm and excitement from obviously my relationship with the Wilpon family and the Katz family, but also within the organization, I think this may present itself as a great opportunity for the club.

“We’ll look forward to how that integrates as we go forward.”

The 64-year-old Cohen’s previous offer to purchase the team over the winter for $2.6 billion fell through in February. Van Wagenen is under contract for two more seasons under the four-year, $10 million deal he signed in November 2018 after establishing himself as one of baseball’s top agents with Creative Artists Agency.

“I think from our communication, I did have a chance to sit down with Steve going back to last winter, and we had a chance to get to know each other a little bit and talked about some ideas and philosophies,” the 46-year-old Van Wagenen said. “But as it relates to the offseason, going into it, I know there’s still a few odd I’s to dot and T’s to cross before it’ll become official. But, at this point, my collaboration is still amongst the senior leaders in my department and then communication with [longtime owners] Jeff and Fred [Wilpon] and from there we’ll continue to go forward. Right now, our transactions are focused on today, tonight, tomorrow to focus on this regular season.”

The Mets (23-28) enter their final nine games of the pandemic-shortened 60-game schedule three games behind the Phillies for the second wild-card position in the National League under first-year manager Luis Rojas.

Asked if he has received any assurances that he will remain in his current position following the 2020 season, Van Wagenen reiterated that he hasn’t “had those conversations with” Cohen.

“My daily operations remains exactly the same,” Van Wagenen said. “My daily communication with Jeff and Fred is consistent to what it’s always been. Our relationship is as close as ever. I haven’t had any new discussions with Steve since last winter. But in terms of my own job security, I’ve said it many times, I don’t think about that. I don’t give it any thought because my task is to win today.

“Beyond that, I’ve thought a lot about a quote that has motivated me in the past. I’ve shared this quote with the team and the coaching staff. Nelson Mandela said the words ‘I never lose. I either win or I learn.’ I think that’s the approach we want to take to our team.”

From his previous talks with Cohen and from what he’s heard elsewhere about him, however, Van Wagenen looks forward to the possibility of working for the Point72 Asset Management hedge-fund founder, who also is a longtime Mets fan.

“I anticipate from things that I’ve heard about Steve and the success that he’s had and also my one-on-one interaction with him has been incredibly positive in regards to how motivated he is to put this franchise in a continued course towards our goals of winning consistently,” Van Wagenen said. “He’s competitive. Again the conversations weren’t very top-line, because there was no deal officially in place at that particular time.

“But I know he’s competitive, I know he’s historically believed in investing in the infrastructure of his organizations and the intellectual capital of the people who work for him. With that mindset, if he carries that over to a team that I know he’s had a long-term passion for, I think it’s an opportunity for the organization to continue to go in a progressive way.”