Francesa Critiques Cohen After Mets Miss Out on Tucker

Mike Francesa has addressed Steve Cohen following the Mets’ failure to secure Kyle Tucker, asserting, “You’re not Bobby Axelrod.” The former WFAN host criticized Cohen, the wealthy owner of the Mets, and baseball operations director David Stearns after Tucker opted for a four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers, while the Mets offered him $220 million over the same duration.

Francesa’s remarks surfaced just before the Mets shifted focus to shortstop Bo Bichette, successfully signing him from the Phillies for a three-year, $126 million contract. He remarked that Cohen appears to be a “weak, helpless billionaire” led astray by Stearns, who he suggested lacks the insight needed for operating in New York City. Francesa also expressed that Tucker’s signing with the Dodgers undermines Cohen’s strength and reputation as an owner.

While Cohen is often willing to spend lavishly, it’s become evident that the Dodgers have been the more attractive choice for top players recently. The offseason has seen the Dodgers secure stars like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and others. They even obtained Edwin Diaz from the Mets this offseason to deter Tucker from joining their team.

Despite Cohen’s significant win last offseason—landing Juan Soto with a groundbreaking 15-year, $765 million contract—some believed his reputation would make him unbeatable in negotiations. However, he has seemingly lost out to the Dodgers in bidding wars for high-profile talents like Ohtani and Yamamoto, in addition to Tucker.

Francesa went on to describe Cohen as a character that baseball fans would expect to see dominating in a narrative similar to the show “Billions.” The so-called “Cohen Tax,” designed to limit his spending power, stands as a testament to the league’s concerns over his financial might.

Francesa expressed disbelief that Cohen, with his apparent wealth, would be outpaced by others in securing talent. He portrayed Cohen as an owner who has not met the expectations set upon him, stating he appears to operate as if he’s trying to build a small-market strategy in a large-market environment. Cohen’s recent acquisition of Bichette can be viewed as a move to counterbalance the failed bid for Tucker, meeting a pressing need for the team.

As the Mets remain within the highest luxury tax bracket, they still require additional talent in both outfield and starting pitching. Francesa lamented that Cohen hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations, suggesting he was initially perceived as the next great owner in the mold of Yankees legend George Steinbrenner. The consensus seems to be that the baseball industry has underestimated Coens capability to fundamentally shift the competitive landscape.