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Fans hate fire sales by their teams. And Mets fans detest the Wilpons.
So putting the two together would seem a worse idea than giving Charlie Sheen a microphone.
But, really, it is one of the few gambits the Wilpons have left in trying to retain the team. This is not about endorsing Wilpon ownership. Because it probably would be best for the team and baseball if the Wilpons were to sell the club as a way to restore finances and faith in the Mets.
Nevertheless, the Wilpons are fighting ardently to retain the team, and it would not be unique for an ownership in financial hell to make its costliest players available. For the Mets, that would mean not only the free-agents-to-be, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, but also Jason Bay, Francisco Rodriguez, Johan Santana and, yes, even seeing what would be available for organizational icon David Wright.
Two executives heavily involved in major league finances said it would be wise for the Mets to reduce payroll dramatically; even to, say, the $70 million range as soon as the 2012 season. This hardly would solve all of the Wilpons’ financial problems because they carry hundreds of millions of dollars in debt before even learning their ultimate fate in the Madoff debacle.
But the two executives felt even a stripped-down version of the Mets still would draw no worse than two million spectators to Citi Field. That would allow the Mets to make money, moving banks to feel less edgy about current loans and, possibly, even consider future loans.
“That approach would be helpful,” one of the executives said. “Banks like to see operating profits over losses and it also would eliminate the need to plug holes in operating costs, which is what forced them to seek extra loans from Major League Baseball.”
General manager Sandy Alderson already has said the plan for 2012 is to bring the payroll significantly down from the current $140 million-plus. Much of that will be achieved with expiring contracts for the Pariah Brothers — Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez — plus Beltran, Reyes and possibly K-Rod.
But why stop there? The 2012 Mets are unlikely to be legitimate contenders with a $110 million payroll, so why not get the long-term benefits — for the talent base and the Wilpons’ finances — of going further? Here is the question: Are the Mets closer to being a champion by continuing to try to build around what they have or by starting over — with the head start that could come from adding prospects through a fire sale?
The Mets long have conned themselves that they are just a player or two away from being of championship timber. But I don’t think any NL East team would trade all the players in their organization for those of the Mets. Even the Nationals can imagine their next three-to-seven years being better than the Mets’ simply by having Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg under control.
The Mets do not have a veteran making significant money who is likely to be a member of their next sustained contender, except perhaps Wright. So why not speed up the process of getting to that next strong roster? Because it will upset the fans? Really? Can they be more upset than they have been the past two years?
“Everyone sees the elephant in the room,” an AL executive said. “They need all the moons to align just to win 85 games, and all the moons are not going to align. It is time to get real. And this is the perfect time. The smart fans will get it. They understand that the talent level is not nearly good enough in the majors or the minors. They see what is happening with Madoff. A total renovation is needed.”
It would be up to the new front office to create a reservoir of young talent by making strong trades, and then use some of the saved money to invest wisely in the draft and Latin America. The Wilpons have not had the discipline or intellect to stick with a rebuilding plan in the past. But what are their choices now?
This is not a desirable path, but probably a necessary one. And $70 million payrolls for a few years do not mean having to stay at that austere (for New York) level for good. Also, remember that a team with a $60 million payroll that spent much of last year in bankruptcy, the Rangers, went to the World Series.
For now, though, the Mets must hope Beltran and Reyes are healthy, productive and, thus, viewed as desirable commodities in July. Perhaps Bay and K-Rod can build value, as well. If Santana comes back healthy, it is conceivable that, for example, the Yankees would be willing to absorb a 2012-13 salary of more than $50 million.
Wright is the toughest call. He is signed for $15 million in 2012 with a $16 million option for 2013 (or a $1 million buyout). Will the Mets win during the remainder of this contract? If he wants to stay, will Wright be worth a significant extension in his 30s? Or is his best long-term value to the organization as a desirable trade chip?
My suspicion is the Mets would get no less, say, than Kansas City received in the offseason for Zack Greinke, especially because the interest would be heavy. I could see teams such as the Angels, Orioles, Braves, Marlins, Cubs, White Sox, Blue Jays, A’s, Cardinals, Brewers, Dodgers, Rockies and Giants all having interest Again, this is not a desirable path. But if these Mets owners really are going to keep the team, then all options need to be considered to make the long-term picture better than the current one.
joel.sherman@nypost.com