Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen, who acquired 95% ownership of the Mets in October 2020 for approximately $2.4 billion, is using Twitter to crowdsource fan input on free agent signings following the non-tender deadline on December 3, 2020.
- • Cohen posted a direct question to fans asking "Who was the most interesting player non-tendered and why?" — a highly unconventional approach to roster construction that reflects his willingness to engage stakeholders via social media for decision-making input.
- • Mets fans responded with multiple free agent candidates including David Dahl and Kyle Schwarber, demonstrating significant engagement with the ownership's transparency initiative and the novelty of direct fan participation in organizational decisions.
- • This crowdsourcing strategy signals Cohen's commitment to fan engagement as a core element of his ownership philosophy, distinguishing his approach from traditional front office decision-making structures in professional sports.
Summary
Steve Cohen's acquisition of the New York Mets in October 2020—purchasing 95% of the franchise from the Wilpon/Katz group for approximately $2.4 billion—has already produced an unconventional management style centered on direct fan engagement. On December 3, 2020, following the MLB non-tender deadline that created a new cohort of free agents, Cohen took to Twitter to solicit fan opinion on which newly available players the organization should pursue. His post posed a straightforward question: "Who was the most interesting player non-tendered and why?"
The response from Mets fans underscored both enthusiasm for this novel approach and substantive player feedback. Supporters nominated candidates including David Dahl and Kyle Schwarber, while some respondents submitted tongue-in-cheek suggestions. This level of engagement reflects a departure from traditional front office operations, where ownership and management decisions on player acquisition remain insulated from public input. Cohen's willingness to crowdsource roster decisions through social media represents a significant transparency shift in professional sports ownership and signals his philosophy that fan stakeholders merit a voice in organizational direction.
The crowdsourcing initiative carries strategic implications for franchise credibility and fan retention. By visibly incorporating fan preferences into the decision-making apparatus—or at least appearing to solicit them—Cohen establishes a perception of accessibility and democratic engagement that can strengthen fan loyalty during what may be a rebuilding phase. This approach also generates low-cost marketing value through organic social media engagement, as fans feel invested in outcomes they've nominally influenced.
The practical impact on roster construction remains to be determined, but the signal from Cohen's Twitter outreach is clear: fan voice will occupy a more prominent position in Mets organizational decisions than has been customary in Major League Baseball ownership structures.
The response from Mets fans underscored both enthusiasm for this novel approach and substantive player feedback. Supporters nominated candidates including David Dahl and Kyle Schwarber, while some respondents submitted tongue-in-cheek suggestions. This level of engagement reflects a departure from traditional front office operations, where ownership and management decisions on player acquisition remain insulated from public input. Cohen's willingness to crowdsource roster decisions through social media represents a significant transparency shift in professional sports ownership and signals his philosophy that fan stakeholders merit a voice in organizational direction.
The crowdsourcing initiative carries strategic implications for franchise credibility and fan retention. By visibly incorporating fan preferences into the decision-making apparatus—or at least appearing to solicit them—Cohen establishes a perception of accessibility and democratic engagement that can strengthen fan loyalty during what may be a rebuilding phase. This approach also generates low-cost marketing value through organic social media engagement, as fans feel invested in outcomes they've nominally influenced.
The practical impact on roster construction remains to be determined, but the signal from Cohen's Twitter outreach is clear: fan voice will occupy a more prominent position in Mets organizational decisions than has been customary in Major League Baseball ownership structures.
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