New York woke up angry and indignant at news they did not expect: the signing of Kyle Tucker with the Dodgers for a much smaller amount than the $400 million he demanded as a free agent at the start of the offseason. One of the teams that wanted him and did not move in the end to go for him is the Mets. Mike Francesa knows it and explodes against Steve Cohen.
Known as ‘the Pope of Sport’, the presenter vented his annoyance with the franchise owner for dismantling the roster and for the lack of investment to sign elite players. Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns let Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz go, and now they are without Tucker for stalling in negotiations.
Francesa also expressed his displeasure after Cohen mocked Mets fans on X when he posted “let me know when you see smoke” on the social network, in reference to the papal conclave that signals the election of a new pope with white smoke. For fans, the only “supreme pontiff” of sports information about the franchise is Francesa.
And now the owner goes on Twitter, makes his white smoke joke and then looks ridiculous. He looks like a weak and ineffectual billionaire who doesn’t know what he’s doing and is being led astray by a guy who doesn’t understand what it means to have muscle
The way the Mets dismantled their roster and their failed strategy to go after free agents in this winter market is considered an affront by Francesa, who pointed out that with these actions they only harm and play with the feelings of the fans.
They owe the fans for last year. The fans returned the favor for Soto last year, they filled the stadium completely. That’s what the owner wanted, and they did it
The reason for Mike Francesa’s anger with the Mets
Kyle Tucker signed with the Dodgers on a $60 million per season contract. In previous weeks, there was talk of his demand for $120 million, a figure that the Mets could afford, but in New York they wanted to wait for more time to pass so that the rate would go down. The problem is that they did not calculate the time well and the Los Angeles organization negotiated with Tucker as soon as this intention of salary reduction came.
Given the situation, in the rush to sign a high-profile free agent, the Mets signed Bo Bichette to a $126 million, three-year deal, meaning they paid twice as much as Tucker cost the Dodgers. That’s why Francesa is so upset, they let the most sought-after player slip away because they neglected the possibility of a trade.
Mike Francesa senses a crisis among Mets fans
Francesa knows Cohen is not about to start running the Mets like they are a small-market organization; signing Bichette proves that. But Francesa sticks it to the front office with the prediction of a fan base teetering on the brink of a crisis that will cost them confidence with the team.
The Mets are not going to win big and they are not going to fill that stadium like they did last year
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