Report: Steve Cohen Submits Bid to Purchase Mets from Fred Wilpon

Billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen has placed a bid to purchase the New York Mets, per Tim Healey of Newsday.  

The 64-year-old has previously been in the running to purchase the team and even struck a deal with majority owner Fred Wilpon on an agreement to buy the National League East franchise.

The deal broke down over a matter of control, however, with Josh Kosman and Thornton McEnery of the New York Post reporting the following in February: "The hedge fund billionaire months ago signed a non-binding deal to buy the Mets, called a term sheet, in which Cohen would gain more than half of the team's equity immediately but leave Fred Wilpon as the Mets control person for five years running the club, two sources said."

The Post added: "When he realized Wilpon was going to really be in control for five years while Cohen owned a majority of the team's equity, Cohen got uncomfortable with the deal and worked on changing the terms."

Cohen's efforts have reportedly sprung back to life, though, after Jon Heyman of WFAN Sports Radio and MLB Network called him the favorite to buy the team:

Cohen isn't without competition, as Heyman noted:

But he looks to be the lead candidate to buy the Mets from Wilpon.

Wilpon gained sole ownership after he bought Nelson Doubleday's 50 percent share in the franchise. He and Doubleday had previously held 50 percent stakes before then.

Wilpon was the sole owner until 2012, when the team sold 12 minority stakes for a total of $240 million, per Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal.

Cohen, who owns an 8 percent minority stake, tried to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012. However, Guggenheim Baseball Management eventually won the bidding process, led by controlling partner Mark Walter.

Forbes values the Mets at $2.4 billion. McEnery previously reported that Cohen was looking to strike a $2.6 billion deal with the Wilpons.

Cohen has been a Mets fan since childhood and is worth $13 billion, per McEnery.