MLB Insider Discusses A Key Mets Problem

The New York Mets recently gave second baseman and reigning National League batting champion Jeff McNeil a four-year, $50 million contract extension.

Mets owner Steve Cohen has been very busy this winter in terms of spending money, having already signed Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, and Brandon Nimmo.

He has also made it quite clear that he doesn’t care too much about going over the luxury tax threshold and that winning is his only priority.

However, this could pose a problem for the Mets in the future if they plan on trying to sign Shohei Ohtani next offseason, as was pointed out by Jon Heyman.

@JonHeyman breaks down the #Mets chances to beat a crowded field and land Shohei Ohtani in free agency https://t.co/tQlp0fwZqe pic.twitter.com/WhLzLBp1wP

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) January 31, 2023

Granted, the Mets have tremendous financial resources, and this more than likely will not deter Cohen from making another splash next offseason.

Still, there are some hurdles to jump through, some of which hinge on the amount of money that McNeil is being paid in the coming years.

The deal also includes a club option for a fifth year that could take the value up to $63.75 million.

Needless to say, that’s a lot of money being committed to one player.

Though Heyman didn’t mention Ohtani by name, the popular belief is that the Los Angeles Angels two-way star will be asking for a record deal, potentially up to $500 million, as some have predicted.

McNeil’s contract may make it a little bit hard to churn out that kind of money for the former American League MVP.

Still, the Mets are well above the luxury tax threshold, and as Heyman notes, it’s hard to imagine them getting below that threshold anytime soon.