The Mets’ payroll, the highest in baseball, sits at $338MBrad Penner/USA TODAY NETWORK
Mets owner Steve Cohen last week doubled down on his new team philosophy that the franchise “intends to have a more conservative financial approach in coming years -- attempting to build a sustainable winner via a self-replenishing farm system that is complemented by judicious free-agent signings,” but he also said that he “remains open to the idea of adding payroll at the trade deadline if it makes sense,” according to Laura Albanese of NEWSDAY. Cohen: “I’m not afraid to spend money, but I don’t want to be just spending money for the sake [of spending money]. I want this organization to be run efficiently, I want it to be run professionally.” The Mets’ payroll, the highest in baseball, sits at $338M. That puts them past the fourth and final luxury-tax threshold -- meaning that “all free-agent acquisitions are taxed at a rate of 110%.” Cohen said that it would be “challenging to reset the penalty completely” -- something that can happen “only if the team doesn’t exceed the first competitive balance tax threshold.” That number is $241M for 2025. Albanese wrote it also “doesn’t seem like a priority” (NEWSDAY, 3/29).
ECONOMIC STATUS: USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale wrote the payroll disparity has “never been greater in the sport,” with the Mets “actually paying more money to players no longer on their roster ($70.3 million) than the entire total the A’s are paying for players on their team ($60.5 million).” The Mets, Yankees and Dodgers are “expected to exceed” the $237M luxury tax this season, with all having CBT payrolls above $300M. Yet, there are also five teams who had opening-day payrolls under $100M and 20 teams lower than $200M. While “more teams are willing to cross the luxury tax threshold than ever before,” there still are 10 teams who will open the season with a lower payroll than a year ago. Nightengale wrote as was proven last year, “money doesn’t guarantee tickets to the October dance.” Nightengale: “The Mets’ $305.6 million payroll dwarfs the Marlins ($97.2 million), but guess which team earned a wild-card berth last season and which stayed home” (USA TODAY, 3/29).
