Alex Rodriguez Feels Cheated After Failed Mets' Bid, New York Post Reports

Alex Rodriguez was unsuccessful in his bid to buy the New York Mets, and the former Major League Baseball star reportedly doesn’t think he was given a fair chance. Rodriguez believes the race to buy the MLB franchise — hedge fund manager Steve Cohen won the bid — was rigged, the New York Post reported.

A consortium led by Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez offered $2.3 billion for the team on Aug. 28 when Steve Greenberg of Allen & Co. asked for a final bid on behalf of the franchise, according to the Post. Shortly afterward, it was reported that Cohen had entered into exclusive negotiations to buy the Mets.

The deadline for final bids had been set for Aug. 31.

Cohen bid on the Mets at a $2.35 billion valuation, Sportico first reported, just $50 million more than Rodriguez’s group and $250 million less than Cohen’s initial offer in December. Cohen was set to purchase the Mets for $2.6 billion, but the deal fell apart two months later and the process was opened to more potential buyers.

Rodriguez is “convinced,” according to the Post, that Cohen was informed of the ex-ballplayer’s bid so that he could make the highest offer. The 45-year-old might have increased his bid if given the opportunity.

Rodriguez's claims of cheating come after a playing career marred by scandals. After admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs in the early 2000s with the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez was later caught using PEDs with the New York Yankees.

Rodriguez was adamant in his denial that he didn’t break the league’s rules for a second time, going as far as to sue MLB in 2013 over his 211-game suspension. The lawsuit was dropped a few months later before Rodriguez missed the entire 2014 season, and he eventually admitted he did in fact use PEDs.

After a 21-season career ended in 2015, Rodriguez made the transition to broadcasting. He works as an in-studio analyst for Fox Sports and as a broadcaster on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.”