Mike Francesa is angry. Again. If you tuned into The Mike Francesa Podcast today, you heard a man who has reaching his breaking point with the current state of New York baseball. Specifically, he’s done with Steve Cohen.
The "Sports Pope" didn't just critique the Mets' recent free agency blunders; he dismantled them. The primary catalyst for this latest rant was the Mets losing out on All-Star Kyle Tucker, who just inked a massive $60 million-per-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. For Francesa, this wasn't just a missed signing. It was a symptom of a larger, more embarrassing rot at Citi Field.
Steve Cohen, the "Weak Billionaire"?
Francesa is never one to mince words, but today he went for the jugular. He called Cohen a "weak, ineffective billionaire" who has "egg all over his face."
Why the vitriol? Because of a tweet.
Apparently, Cohen tried to get cute on X (formerly Twitter) by making a "white smoke" joke—a reference to the papal conclave—teasing fans about a potential signing. When Tucker chose Hollywood over Queens, that joke aged like milk. Francesa’s take was simple: if you’re going to act like the Sports Pope, you better deliver the goods.
"The fans paid them back for Soto last year," Mike barked into the mic. "They filled the park. And now the owner gets on Twitter and makes jokes while he’s being led astray by people who don't understand muscle."
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It’s classic Mike. It’s the high-decibel authority that made him a legend on WFAN, now unleashed without the constraints of FCC regulations or commercial breaks.
The Bo Bichette Consolation Prize
The Mets did move quickly to stop the bleeding, signing Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract just hours after the Tucker news broke. Most analysts see this as a solid "Plan B."
Mike? Not so much.
While he acknowledged that signing Bichette proves Cohen isn't running the team like a small-market operation, he remains unconvinced. To him, the Mets look "lost." They’ve lost Pete Alonso. They’ve lost Edwin Diaz. They’ve lost the bidding war for the biggest bats.
He basically views the Bichette signing as a desperate attempt to buy time before the fanbase reaches a full-scale meltdown. You can hear the exhaustion in his voice when he talks about David Stearns. He doesn't see "muscle." He sees a front office that's getting outplayed by the Dodgers’ strategic spending.
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Is New York Still the Place to Be?
One of the most fascinating segments of The Mike Francesa Podcast today wasn't even about batting averages or contracts. It was about geography.
In a moment of rare, sober reflection, Francesa admitted something that would have been heresy ten years ago: New York is losing its edge. He openly discussed how "Red State" cities like Nashville, Austin, and various spots in Florida are now more attractive to coaches and players than NYC.
The reasons he cited were blunt:
- Taxes: He pointed out that on a $20 million salary, a coach like John Harbaugh (who is heavily linked to the Giants' job) would lose millions just to state and city income taxes.
- Quality of Life: Mike talked about crime, infrastructure, and the "hostile public atmosphere" under the current administration.
- The "Built-in Edge": He argued that teams in Nashville or Texas don't have to "overcome" their location to recruit talent anymore; the location is the selling point.
"New York doesn't offer what it once did," Mike said. "You've got crazies like me who can't even think of not living here... but let's be honest. A lot of people look down on it now."
NFL Divisional Weekend and the Giants' Hope
It’s not all doom and gloom. Or, well, it’s a different kind of intensity. Mike spent a good chunk of the episode looking ahead to the NFL Divisional Weekend.
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He’s currently high on the prospect of John Harbaugh taking over the New York Giants. For a franchise that has been wandering in the wilderness, Mike sees Harbaugh as a "Hall of Fame fit" who could actually bring "muscle" back to the organization.
If you're looking for his specific picks, the "Francesa Five" segment laid out some heavy leans:
- Bills vs. Broncos: Mike likes Buffalo to keep the momentum.
- 49ers vs. Seahawks: He’s siding with the Niners' experience.
- Texans vs. Patriots: He’s still impressed by how the Houston defense dismantled Pittsburgh last week.
He also touched on the end of the Mike Tomlin era in Pittsburgh, calling it "shocking" but perhaps necessary. Mike has always had a soft spot for Tomlin, but even he can see when a message has gone stale.
Why This Matters for Your Weekend
The "Sports Pope" might be on a digital platform now, but his influence on the New York sports pulse hasn't faded. When he goes after Cohen, the tabloids follow. When he praises a coaching hire, the pressure on the Mara family increases.
The Mike Francesa Podcast today serves as a reminder that even in 2026, there is no substitute for a guy who simply knows where the bodies are buried. He isn't reading from a teleprompter. He isn't worried about "access." He’s just a guy in a room with a microphone telling you that the Mets are a mess and the city is changing.
If you’re a Mets fan, today’s episode is a tough listen, but a necessary one. It’s a reality check. If you’re a Giants fan, it’s a rare glimmer of hope that a real "football man" might finally be coming to East Rutherford.
Actionable Insights for the Weekend
- Monitor the Harbaugh Situation: Watch the news cycle closely; Mike seems convinced the Giants deal is nearly a lock, and he usually has the "big hitters" on speed dial.
- Check the Mets' Next Move: With Bichette in the fold, see if Stearns pivots to the pitching market. Mike expects another move, but he doesn't expect it to be a "game-changer."
- NFL Betting: If you're following the "Francesa Five," pay attention to his logic on the Texans' defense. He’s been riding that wave all January.
- Listen for Yourself: You can find the full 38-minute episode on the BetRivers Network or YouTube. It’s worth it just to hear him say "billionaire" with that specific Bronx inflection.
The landscape of sports media has changed, but Mike’s role hasn't. He’s the guy who tells you the truth, even when it’s loud, uncomfortable, and involves a lot of complaining about the state of the subway.