New York Mets owner Steve Cohen answers the demands of fans, decides to rethink hospital arm patch

When New York-based hedge fund manager Steve Cohen acquired a majority stake in the New York Mets back in 2020, fans expected him to bring his winning attitude to the team.

As the founder of SAC Capital and Point72 Asset Management, Cohen has accrued a personal net worth of about $10 billion. In his brief time as the owner of the New York Mets, his leadership has ushered in a flurry of big-time contracts.

Cohen, who grew up watching the Mets, rewards performances on the field the same way he does in the boardroom. After signing pitcher Max Scherzer to a record-setting deal that would see the leftie make $43 million per year, the team inked 2022 Houston Astros Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander to an identical deal, making them both the highest-paid pitchers ever.

The Mets also signed closer Edwin Diaz to a 5-year deal worth $102 million, making the Puerto Rican star the highest paid reliever in MLB history.

In April 2023, the New York Mets announced a multi-year brand partnership with New York Presbyterian Hospital. Founded in 1771 as New York Hospital, it is a nonprofit Manhattan-based hospital which is consistently ranked among the world's best.

Although the team is happy to have the sponsorship, the original outline did not win over any massive amount of support. Luckily for fans, Cohen announced that the design would be changed.

"The Mets have an agreement to change their New York Presbyterian jersey patch, per @AnthonyDiComo. Steve Cohen said they need to be more “Met appropriate”" - Talkin' Baseball

The term that Steve Cohen used was "Met appropriate". The plain color scheme of the pre-existing patch did not look suitable in contrast to the light blue of the Mets.

Fans think Cohen's move was perceptive and in-line with the thinking of the fanbase. Overall, they are glad that there is a move to try and adjust the color of the patches.

The patch and the deal represent the first forray into corporate sponsorship in New York Mets history. Some fans seem to figure that advertising should be left off of MLB uniforms. The first glimpse of the new style was unveiled in the Mets' April 6 home opener against the Miami Marlins.

New York Mets will not be the only team delving into advertising

Globally speaking, North America remains an outlier when it comes to advertising on jerseys. Football in Europe and South America has become synonymous with (sometimes garish) sponsorships plastered everywhere. It may not be long before similar such outfits are seen across the MLB.