In yet another sign of the New York Mets' financial distress, the New York Post reported Friday that the team has decided to cut a little less than 10 percent of all non-player personnel. The lay-offs include business, clubhouse and scouting personnel and will claim about 15 jobs from about 180 non-player employees.
"Several weeks ago, we made workforce reductions in both the baseball and business operations departments, which amounted to less than 10 percent of our full-time staff," the team said in a statement.
The Mets' principal owners, the Wilpon family, are currently battling a $368 million lawsuit stemming from the infamous Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme, in which the Wilpons invested and ultimately made money, albeit not nearly as much as they thought they had. A team source told the New York Post the layoffs were not indicative of the team's need to cut payroll for the 2012 season. General manager Sandy Alderson has said the Mets are shooting for a payroll of between $100 million and $110 million, down from the about $140 million they spent in 2011. The team is already expected to have about $67 million committed to players in 2012 and will have to make a decision about whether it will re-sign free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes, who will likely command a lucrative, multi-year contract.
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