MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner Thursday "voiced support" for embattled Mets Owner Fred Wilpon, according to Brian Costa of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Weiner said, "The concern is, players want all 30 franchises to be healthy and prosperous. ... If the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are prosperous, the game does better. Those are our flagship franchises." Weiner also said that players on other teams "have expressed concern about the financial state of both the Mets and the Dodgers, who are in the process of being sold." He said, "I don't know much about the legal circumstance. But the Wilpons have been strong owners and whatever's happening outside with respect to them is happening outside. The way they've conducted themselves throughout their tenure is what I'm relying on. ... What we're looking forward to is hopefully quite soon, the Mets being in a situation to come back and being a team that is going to be more competitive" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/9). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Andy Martino notes Mets players greeted Weiner at the team's Spring Training facility "with questions about the new blood testing program for human growth hormone." Weiner indicated that in-season testing, "while not required by the CBA, was a solid possibility." He said, "We are committed to discussing and considering in-season testing, including doing what we can this year, so that players can experience it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/9).
COST BREAKDOWN: On Long Island, Anthony DeStefano cited court documents as indicating that the $83M "hit facing the owners of the New York Mets from their dealings with Bernard Madoff would be spread out over a mix of limited partnerships, trusts and individuals in amounts ranging from about $30 million to as little as one dollar." As of Tuesday, it was "unclear" if Wilpon and Mets President Saul Katz would appeal U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff's Monday ruling. One source said that since Rakoff "hasn't issued a final order, there is nothing yet to appeal." Documents filed by Irving Picard, trustee for the Madoff victims, indicate that if the full judgment stands, the "biggest bill could be faced by the Mets Limited Partnership, which directly owns the team, for $28 million and the related Sterling Mets LP (which runs team operations)" for $1.6M (NEWSDAY, 3/7).
