New Mets owner Steve Cohen tweeted the other day that if all goes smoothly, he could be in position soon to officially take the steering wheel of the club's day-to-day operations. Perhaps as soon as Friday, or perhaps next Tuesday, sources confirm. That's when Cohen could first go after free agents like outfielder George Springer, or direct his baseball operations department to pursue a deal for shortstop Francisco Lindor.
But the first call that Cohen and returning Mets executive Sandy Alderson should make is to the Indians' ownership, to ask for permission to speak with Cleveland front-office superstar Chris Antonetti, the addition of whom would kick-start the new era of baseball in Queens.