Selig, Wilpon talk but not about the Mets

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Bud Selig expressed confidence once more Thursday that the Wilpons and Saul Katz will be able to survive their financial trouble and retain ownership of the Mets for the long term.

The baseball commissioner said he and Mets CEO Fred Wilpon, his longtime friend, didn't even discuss the matter as both attended the Major League Baseball quarterly owners meetings.

"The Mets situation is moving along very well," Selig said in a news conference. "Fred and I have had a lot of conversations here, and this was the first time in a long time we had no conversations about the Mets in any way. Which is a very good sign."

Mets ownership suffered a setback Tuesday when a federal appeals court ruling strengthened a $300-million claim by Bernard Madoff trustee Irving Picard. Another claim asking for an additional $700 million is also pending.

Asked how that ruling would impact the viability of the Mets' owners, Selig said, jokingly, "I practice law without a license, but I don't think I'll do that here."

Wilpon continues to negotiate exclusively with hedge fund mogul David Einhorn, and both sides are optimistic the $200-million deal for a minority share -- first announced in late May -- will be completed soon.

At the All-Star Game in Phoenix in July, Selig said he would approve Einhorn's partial ownership of the team as soon as the financial end of the deal was worked out.