Mets owner Fred Wilpon said the team is "bleeding cash" and could lose $70 million this season. Wilpon made the comments in an interview with Sports Illustrated that was obtained by The New York Daily News. He also said that he fears losing the Mets if the trustee for victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme wins a $1 billion lawsuit against the team and the owner's other interests. Wilpon has been trying to sell a stake in the team to raise much needed cash. SI reported that if he can raise $200 million, $25 million will pay back an emergency loan to Major League Baseball; $75 million will be used to pay down team debt of $427 million; and $100 million will go to operating expenses.