Wilpon preparing for Mets' fire sale 

Fred Wilpon is well respected as a gentleman and professional, so most were surprised when the New York Mets' owner's comments were released Monday morning in The New Yorker magazine, ripping star players Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran. In an e-mail to the media, Wright excused Wilpon: “Fred is a good man and is obviously going through some difficult times.” Wright was referring to Wilpon's professional, financial and legal issues, including a countersuit against a trustee to recover funds from the Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme and the Mets needing a loan from Major League Baseball to meet obligations.

As a former GM, the first reaction is damage control. I had this happen to me on multiple occasions in my career, especially during the Marge Schott era of the mid-'90s. Quick communication with the players helped put the issue to bed, and most players considered the source. However, this case is different. This isn’t the Bronx or the Yankees. It’s not George Steinbrenner or Marge Schott. It’s Fred Wilpon, and it wasn't his normal behavior. But while Wright came to Wilpon's defense, I’m not buying it.

Here's what Wilpon was saying through his New Yorker interview: If the major league payroll is no longer affordable and needs to be reduced, then trades must be made. Instead of shocking the fans in July, prepare them now.

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