John Catsimatidis, others to replace the Staten Island Yankees

Baseball is coming again to Staten Island.

The Staten Island Yankees — a farm workforce for the Bronx Bombers which has been the launch pad for greats together with Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrerra — was one of the 40-some Minor League groups that had been tragically shuttered final yr due to the pandemic and a large reorganization of the Minors.

However The Submit has discovered {that a} group of buyers — which incorporates Gristedes mogul John Catsimatidis and Jersey politico Eric Shuffler, with extra nonetheless to be named — is about to begin a brand new workforce that may play out of the Richmond County Financial institution Ballpark on the shores of New York Harbor.

Sources say that Merill Lynch alum, enterprise mogul and ex-wife of Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, can be a part of the conglomerate.

We’re instructed that in a bid to revive America’s Pastime to the borough, Main League Baseball acquired a franchise within the unbiased Atlantic League, which at present consists of eight groups from the japanese United States, together with the Lengthy Island Geese.

And now they’re set at hand it off to the funding group, which is able to function the workforce. Town will proceed to personal the stadium and lease it to the workforce homeowners, although we’re instructed that the brand new group of buyers plans to revamp the park.

There will likely be a contest within the Staten Island neighborhood to call the brand new workforce, which we’re instructed will likely be unaffiliated with any Main League Baseball workforce.

The brand new homeowners plan to use the park — which has gorgeous, sweeping views of Decrease Manhattan and the Harbor — for concert events in addition to baseball.

Final yr Main League Baseball took over the Minor Leagues and imposed a rule saying that every Main League workforce may solely have 4 farm groups within the Minors, after they may beforehand have as many as they needed. The brand new rule — coupled with the pandemic — decimated many smaller groups.

However the MLB and the New York Yankees vowed to assist any of the shuttered groups to begin a brand new aspect and open up their gates as soon as extra.

There’s nonetheless some red-tape to work out, we’re instructed. The group that owned the S.I. Yankees and leased the stadium from the town must switch the lease to the brand new homeowners. And the conglomerate continues to be planning so as to add extra buyers to its ranks.

However sources say that Mayor Invoice de Blasio is planning to announce the information as early as subsequent week.

We’re instructed the brand new homeowners hope to have concert events on the stadium by the top in 2021, and plan to have gamers out on the sphere for the 2022 season.

In different Catsimatidis-related baseball information, John’s spouse, Margo, is predicted to throw out the primary pitch Wednesday on the Brooklyn Cyclones sport in Coney Island. We’re instructed she’ll be getting some tips about the sphere from legendary Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden and 69′ Mets gamers Artwork Shamsky and Ed Kranepool. The Cyclones are owned by the New York Mets. John and Margo Catsimatidis personal Ocean Drive Towers flats in Coney Island.