The delay in payment will give Wilpon and Katz time to recover some (or all) of their $172 million claim against Madoff. The $162 million figure represents the amount of supposed profit the two men withdrew from their account with Madoff in the years before the scheme collapsed.
The settlement is viewed as a victory for Wilpon and Katz, who have had to borrow fund to keep the Mets going. And the team is losing fans after five straight seasons without a playoff appearance.