The J-Rod Mets may be getting closer to reality.
The bid led by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez has become the “clear-cut favorite” to buy the Mets, USA Today reported Sunday, citing the belief of “several MLB executives.”
Final bids for the team are due by Aug. 31.
There were previously questions about whether the J-Rod group would have enough money to compete with the other bidders — hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen and another group led by Devils and 76ers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer. But J-Rod has added Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola and Vitamin Water co-founder Mike Repole to boost their funding.
Rodriguez and Lopez would reportedly be investing $225-300 million of their own money. Viola is worth about $5 billion and Repole $3 billion, opening the possibility that they could contribute more money than J-Rod — possibly making Rodriguez settle for CEO, but not the controlling Mets owner.
“It could make sense for Vinny to be the control person,” a source close to the situation previously told The Post.
Cohen, who is worth $14 billion, tried to buy the team in February for a reported $2.6 billion before the deal with the Wilpons fell through.
The Post previously reported that J-Rod met with Patriots owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft to discuss a partnership on stadium operations for Citi Field and the development of Willets Point around the park.