I got a tweet…
@metspolice any chance caa is trying to buy the team? https://t.co/Ku14Q9BqCr
— Joe Pomponio (@Pomponio08) March 5, 2019
…hmmm. At first glance that seems ridiculous. But the notion stayed with me.
There’s a lot to unpack here…
First, you can only buy something that is for sale. However, you may remember the time David Einhorn almost bought into the Mets. So maybe the Wilpons would like some additional money.
You may also remember that competing agency WME bought the UFC. So I guess it’s not an insane notion that an agency might like to own some sports properties.
I tried to look up some rules about owning MLB teams, and I came across MLBPA Rule 20 (page 96) which appears to prevent agencies from owning a team….the bold is mine….
(b) LOANS TO AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PLAYERS. No Club, or owner, stockholder, officer, director or employee (including manager or player) of a Club, shall, directly or indirectly, loan money to or become surety or guarantor for a player of any other Club in any League, nor be an agent or representative of any player in any League.
Furthermore, I believe MLB ownerships have to be approved by the other owners, and my opinion is that the owners and player’s union would lose their minds if a talent agency tried to buy a team. I could be wrong.
So no, I do not think CAA is trying to buy the Mets. Now to give a Sandy Alderson answer, you specifically asked if there is a chance…as Sandy might say, it is conceivably possible. Even if prohibited, I can imagine it. Lol.
However, say CAA were able to place an influential insider within the Mets organization. That person could help steer the Mets to do business with all sorts of CAA clients, all on the up and up. That could be a beneficial relationship for all parties. Something to think about.
Thanks for the tweet Joe, but my answer is no, I do not think CAA is trying to buy the Mets.
