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Tim McCarver: Wilpons Will 'Have To Sell' Mets

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Tim McCarver thinks the Mets' owners will eventually need step away.

"I personally feel the Wilpons have to sell the ballclub," McCarver said during a Tuesday conference call to promote Fox's 2011 baseball schedule.

The club's embattled owners recently filed legal papers disputing a court trustee's claim that they owe more than $1 billion because they should have known their investments with Bernard Madoff were fraudulent.

McCarver called the Mets' financial situation "deplorable" and "agonizing."

In January, Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, announced they were looking into selling up to 25 percent of the franchise because of "uncertainty" caused by the  potential $1 billion lawsuit.

"I don't see how they can escape by selling a minority position, particularly when they don't allow any control," said McCarver. "I can't see any other way for them to go but to sell the ballclub."

McCarver echoed the sentiments of Hall of Famer and former Montreal Expos manager Frank Robinson, who told the New York Post on Monday the Mets' players will "hear it from the loudmouths in the stands" all season long.

"They are going to be asked questions about these off-field matters all year, every place they go," McCarver said. "I would not want to be a player on the Mets right now. Not because they are not talented enough, but because of all the questions surrounding the team this year will be about the off-the-field problems. It's very difficult to play under those circumstances."

Do you agree with McCarver? Sound off in the comments below...

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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