Part 3/7:
Steve Cohen, known for his hands-on approach, demonstrated his commitment to the team by personally flying down to Tampa. This move was illustrative of his passion for the Mets and his determination to secure top talent. Unlike many team owners who may delegate or utilize brief phone calls to communicate, Cohen’s presence signified that he valued Alonzo as a key player and wanted him to know it directly.
As part of this heart-to-heart, Alonzo vented his frustrations about past offers that seemed lowball in comparison to his contributions to the team. Cohen reassured him that the shortcomings were linked more to the structure of the MLB salary system rather than a lack of faith in Alonzo’s capabilities.