Ex-manager Bobby Valentine lining up investors to buy part of Mets
Port St. Lucie, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – If you can’t manage them, own them.
That might end up being the case for Bobby Valentine who has spoken with financial backers about lining up a bid to buy at least a portion of the New York Mets Mets according to a report.
A baseball official told ESPNNewYork.com of Valentine’s plan and the former Met manager did not deny his interest.
“I”ve talked to a number of people interested in purchasing part of the New York Mets, but I’m not formally with any group that is actively pursuing this venture,” Valentine said Sunday night.
The 60-year-old Valentine managed the Mets to their last World Series appearance, in 2000 against the New York Yankees, and was mentioned as a candidate to return to the Mets but the job eventually went to Terry Collins.
Valentine was a serious candidate for the Florida Marlins managerial position last offseason, but the job never materialized. Now Valentine has apparently set his sights on a different role in the game.
Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon announced his intention to explore the sale of 20 to 25 percent of the team because of financial issues. There is also a chance a higher percentage could be sold as long as the Wilpons retained a controlling interest.
The opportunity for Valentine, or anyone else for that matter, to buy a stake in the Mets has come about because of financial problems involving the team and Wilpon.
The team acknowledged Friday that it required a loan from Major League Baseball in November, reportedly for $25 million, because of liquidity issues. Mets ownership is also facing a $1 billion lawsuit brought by the trustee trying to recover funds for victims of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.
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