Mets Owner Is Pissed, Calling Steven Matz' Agent "Unprofessional"

 

The St. Louis Cardinals are quite pleased with their signing of free agent pitcher Steven Matz this morning. But New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is fuming. 

I’m not happy this morning . I’ve never seen such unprofessional behavior exhibited by a player’s agent.I guess words and promises don’t matter.

— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) November 24, 2021

"I’m not happy this morning," wrote Cohen on Twitter. "I’ve never seen such unprofessional behavior exhibited by a player’s agent. I guess words and promises don’t matter."

Wow. Matz' agent, Rob Martin, had this to say, in response.

Statement from Steven Matz’s agent, Rob Martin. pic.twitter.com/yC4p1FPfaP

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 24, 2021

Martin generally says he will "take the high road" and not comment on Twitter. He also reiterated that Matz enjoyed his six years with the Mets, but "ultimately made the decision he felt was best for him and his family." 

Matz had a strong second-half of 2021 for the Toronto Blue Jays, sufficiently building his free agency in order to snag a 4-year, $44M deal from the Cardinals. But according to Jon Heyman, the Mets felt they were in line to sign Matz back into the fold.

They had the impression he was going to come back to them for a final chance. Sources say Mets would have gone to that level ($44M, 4 years). Mets GM Billy Eppler told Matz’s agent Rob Martin he was upset. Mets thought they’d have a final chance and didn’t get it. Word from Matz camp is he had a late change of heart.

When Eppler came on board as the Mets new GM a week ago, the talks with Matz picked up to the point where a source reported "a good chance" of a reunion.

The 30-year-old pitcher spent the first 6 years of his career in Queens, but a disastrous 2020 led them to trade him to the Blue Jays, where he finished with a 14-7 record, and 3.82 ERA, mostly based on a tremendous start, and finish, to the season.

Photo Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports