Alex Rodriguez is strengthening his position to buy the New York Mets. The ESPN baseball analyst and his wife, actress Jennifer Lopez, have reportedly found more backers for the bid according to The New York Post.
The couple, working with Galatioto Sports Partners investment bank, have reportedly found two anonymous investors that are willing to contribute $250 million to buying the Mets. Galatioto Sports Partners’ vice chairman is former NBA deputy commissioner and COO Russ Granik. The firm previously helped shepherd along the sale of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Sal Galatioto, president of the firm, declined to comment for the story. An anonymous source, that The New York Post identifies as being “close to” Rodriguez and Lopez, says the couple is indeed working with the firm.
The Post says “the Wilpons grow more desperate” to sell the Mets. In addition to the J-Rod bid, 76ers owner Josh Harris and David Bitzer are expected to make a play for the team. There is also reportedly a “mystery bidder” waiting to see where the price tag lands before making its move.
ESPN was called out last year for allowing Rodriguez and Jessica Mendoza to be a part of Sunday Night Baseball, even as they each had advisory roles for the Yankees and Mets respectively. Mendoza was re-assigned while ARod remains on the broadcast. ESPN would almost certainly not allow him to hang on to that job if he and Lopez do indeed win the bidding for the New York Mets.
