Mr Met

Jonathan Gasthalter represents billionaire financier Steven Cohen as he works to finalize a deal to take over the New York Mets from the hands of the team's recalcitrant majority owners.

The Mets announced in December that Cohen, owner of Point72 Asset Management who has an eight percent stake in the team, had entered negotiations to buy out majority owners Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff.

Jonathan Gasthalter
Jonathan Gasthalter

The agreement called for the Wilpons to retain their general partner and COO titles, respectively, for five years.

The New York Times reported Feb. 6 that Cohen, who was funding the transaction that would value the franchise at $2.6B, assumed the Wilpon titles were largely ceremonial.

The Wilpons apparently had other ideas. The paper did note that they have a reputation for requesting last-minute changes favorable to them in negotiations.

The current snag could be a negotiating ploy or a deal-breaker.

Mets fans have cheered the prospect of getting rid of the Wilpons, who have failed to bid for free agents who would be eager to showcase their talent on baseball's biggest stage.

The team has made the playoffs just six times during the 33 seasons that they have been controlling owners.

Gasthalter launched Gasthalter & Co in 2016 after a 17-year run as managing director at Sard Verbinnen & Co.