The New York Mets went on a shopping spree late last year, before the MLB lockout.
They signed star pitcher Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million deal to pair with Jacob deGrom.
Additionally, they also brought in outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha: the former signed a four-year, $78 million deal, and the later inked a two-year, $26.5 million pact.
Infielder Eduardo Escobar was also added under a two-year, $20 million contract.
However, the Mets may not be done spending, as MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported on Monday.
Have heard Mets might consider signing another significant pitcher and hitter once the lockout ends, on top of Scherzer, Marte, Canha and Escobar. If so $270M payroll could approach $300M.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 31, 2022
“Have heard Mets might consider signing another significant pitcher and hitter once the lockout ends, on top of Scherzer, Marte, Canha and Escobar. If so $270M payroll could approach $300M,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
The Mets Enter Previously Unknown Territory
If the reports are true, the Mets may be willing to enter Los Angeles Dodgers territory when it comes to payroll expenses.
Those two appear to be the only franchises willing to surpass the competitive balance tax (CBT) by a significant amount of money.
Everybody else has been maneuvering to stay under the tax to avoid the highest penalties, but ever since Steve Cohen, a hedge fund billionaire, took over the Mets, he has shown his willingness to spend in order to make the franchise a perennial contender.
The Wealthiest Owners In Sports
1. Steve Ballmer (Clippers): $96.5B
2. Dan Gilbert (Cavaliers): $30.9B
3. Robert Pera (Grizzlies): $19B
4. Steve Cohen (Mets): $16B
5. David Tepper (Panthers): $15.8BSports owners grew their wealth by 42% last year.
(h/t @Forbes) pic.twitter.com/5gWEM1kqvS
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 5, 2021
Besides the deals signed before the lockout, he also traded for and extended the Mets’ biggest star as far as position players concern: Francisco Lindor.
That was a $341 million investment over 10 years.
Those are just a few examples of the Mets’ willingness to spend on the roster in the last couple of seasons.
It’s a necessary step to take, because the Mets have done nothing but disappoint ever since going to the World Series in 2015.
The pitching rotation needs at least a couple of extra hurlers: deGrom, Scherzer, Taijuan Walker, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and Carlos Carrasco are a nice start, sure, but a team needs between eight and 10 players to cope with injuries, suspensions, underperformance, and other factors.
There Are Still Players Available
Keep in mind that, while the Mets added Scherzer to the rotation, they lost Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman to free agency and Joey Lucchesi to a long-term injury (Tommy John surgery).
An extra reliever would be nice to complement Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Seth Lugo, and the rest of the bullpen, especially since Aaron Loup departed to Los Angeles.
The starting lineup looks pretty much set, but it remains to be seen what the Mets will do with second baseman Robinson Cano, suspended for the whole 2021 campaign after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs for the second time in his career.
An article ran by MLB Trade Rumors detailed some of the potential additions the Mets can make after the lockout.
They write that the trade market is also a possibility for New York, and name Luis Castillo, the Cincinnati Reds’ ace, and Oakland Athletics hurlers Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, and Frankie Montas.
Yusei Kikuchi is an option via free agency, too.
At the moment, after spending big on Marte, Scherzer, Canha, and Escobar, the Mets’ payroll is projected to be at $263 million.
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