Bud Selig isn't worried about loan to Mets

ST. LOUIS

The Mets have yet to pay back their $25-million loan to Major League Baseball, Bud Selig said Friday. But the commissioner reiterated his confidence that the Wilpons and Saul Katz will right their ship -- and, indeed, return the money they were loaned nearly a year ago.

"We're doing fine with the Mets," Selig said before World Series Game 7 at Busch Stadium. "I don't have any concerns about the Mets, as I think I've told you before. They're working on an alternative financing plan, and they seem to be very encouraged, and I'm encouraged.

"I do have a lot of worries today, but frankly, I'm happy to say the Mets are not one of them."

Selig was not pleased when the Mets' deal to sell about 30 percent of the club to hedge-fund magnate David Einhorn fell apart. Since then, however, the Mets' owners have received favorable rulings in the Bernard Madoff litigation, and it makes them increasingly confident they can survive this rough stretch. Their new strategy is to sell 4-percent shares of the club for $20 million.

In other news from Selig's news conference, which was held primarily so the commissioner could share his joy over Thursday night's ultra-dramatic Game 6:

Selig said he doesn't anticipate banning alcohol from all team clubhouses.

He shared a hunch that he likely will have to mediate in the negotiations between the Cubs and Red Sox concerning compensation Boston will receive for letting general manager Theo Epstein take the position of Cubs president of baseball operations.

He expressed satisfaction with the negotiations for a new collective-bargaining agreement, which could be announced in the next week.

He said fans should not expect a dramatic expansion of instant replay.

Quite a catch

Mets fans know Yadier Molina all too well from his home run that won the 2006 National League Championship Series for the Cardinals. But Molina really was a subpar hitter back in those days.

In 2011, Molina put together a .349 on-base percentage and .465 slugging percentage. It appears that, at age 29, Molina is starting to become an offensive force in addition to an elite defensive catcher.

The Cardinals have a bargain $7-million option on Molina for 2012 that they'll exercise, and after that, it's in Molina's hands. If he explores free agency after 2012 . . . it wouldn't be as a big a deal as Albert Pujols' impending free agency, of course. But you could argue that Molina would be more difficult to replace on the field, given the shortage of quality catchers.

That's why the Cardinals will try to lock up Molina long- term this winter.

"At some point, we'd like to discuss it," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Friday. "I think he enjoys being part of this organization, and we certainly at some point will cross that bridge."

If they don't find common ground, Molina will become the best catcher to hit the market in a very long time. Perhaps ever, when you consider that neither Mike Piazza nor Jorge Posada explored full free agency during their primes.