While the New York Mets are no doubt devastated as they wait on confirmation that closer Edwin Díaz suffered a major knee injury celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic Wednesday evening, the looming bad news didn't stop owner Steve Cohen from taking in some World Baseball Classic action Thursday morning.
Cohen was spotted at the Tokyo Dome Thursday, when Japan was taking on Italy in the WBC:
Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, Shohei Ohtani -- the best player in baseball and top potential free agent next offseason -- was the starting pitcher for Japan. Given how aggressive the Mets have been in chasing star free agents since Cohen bought the team, it would be hard to think that they won't be in play if the two-way superstar becomes available, whether it be by trade this summer or free agency next winter.
Cohen got to see Ohtani limit Italy to four hits and two runs over 4 2/3 innings pitched. The former American League MVP even reached 102 mph on the radar gun, a higher mark than he's ever hit in a Major League game:
Japan defeated Italy 9-3, advancing to the semifinals of the WBC in Miami on March 20. They'll await the winner of the Puerto Rico-Mexico matchup on Friday night.
And Cohen will await the next chess move from ownership groups with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers -- among others -- because it's clear that the Mets plan to be players in the Ohtani sweepstakes, whenever they should commence.
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