Beltran Controversy Overshadows Mets Event To Honor Piazza

Mets COO Jeff Wilpon today will be at the club's Port St. Lucie, Fla., Spring Training facility for an event honoring Baseball HOFer Mike Piazza that "can only be described as poor timing for the franchise," as the uncertainty around manager Carlos Beltran is "sure to overshadow the event in which a street near the complex will be named after the former catcher." The Mets have "maintained public silence" since MLB's Monday report tying Beltran to the Astros sign-stealing scandal, but they "have been scrambling behind the scenes trying to determine how to handle the situation" (NEWSDAY, 1/16).

Beltran is with the team in Port St. Lucie as it "prepares for pitchers and catchers to report" next month (N.Y. POST, 1/16).