Mets owners agree to sell minority interest

NEW YORK (AP) — The cash-strapped owners of the New York Mets agreed to sell a minority share of the team to hedge-fund manager David Einhorn for $200 million, with the new partner predicting the club's financial situation will improve.

The announcement would allow owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz to retain control of the team, which has been damaged by the Bernard Madoff scandal. The influx of money would help pay debts and cover operating expenses.

It was not clear how much of the team Einhorn will own. He emphasized today his stake was a minority one and that he wouldn't oversee the team's payroll or budget.

"I don't expect to have control over any of those topics," he said in a conference call. As for the Mets, he added: "I do expect the financial fortunes to improve over time."

Wilpon told Sports Illustrated this week his team is "bleeding cash" and could lose up to $70 million this year.

Enter Einhorn, the president of the private investment firm Greenlight Capital, Inc.

"I'm very comfortable with the financial arrangement," said Einhorn, who grew up in New Jersey as a Mets fan and recalled wearing a Mets costume for Halloween when he was about 7 years old. "I expect to be involved with this a very long time."