Earlier in the offseason, the New York Mets were said to have something like $10 million in payroll flexibility remaining. That was before the Mets signed outfielder Jay Bruce to a three-year deal worth $39 million -- a contract that will pay him $10 million in 2018. As such, it's fair to wonder just what the Mets' budget looks like for the rest of the winter.
On Tuesday, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson addressed that very subject, acknowledging that payroll could go up -- but quickly noting that payroll alone does not win games:
Jeff Wilpon addressed team’s payroll for first time in a while. Said it’s determined yearly, and can go up throughout offseason & season. Precious attendance & revenue are factors. Said he understands fan frustration but team has a plan and he relies on front office’s strategy.
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) January 23, 2018
Over a decade ago, Mets were top 5 in payroll. Asked if he could foresee that happening again, Wilpon: “I’d rather look at what we do in terms of wins and losses. Being top 5 in payroll, I don’t think that won us a World Series.”
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) January 23, 2018
Even though Mets get back 75% of David Wright's salary through insurance policy, Wilpon said the policy itself "is not cheap" & the other 25% they pay "is a big number." And the savings aren't necessarily reinvest. Team has to plan in the event that Wright does return.
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) January 23, 2018
Technically, they're right -- money doesn't win games. Talent does, however, and talent costs money to acquire.
Besides, Mets fans have fair reason to be annoyed with the club's spending in general. Despite playing in New York, the Mets' payroll has topped $150 million just once ever, and that was last season. Even if the Mets want to avoid the luxury tax, they have more than $60 million in breathing room, according to Cot's Contracts' estimation. Now, obviously, no one expects the Mets to spend that much. But a glance at their roster reveals that they could stand to spend more in order to upgrade a few positions.
Currently, the Mets are set to enter the season with some combination of WIlmer Flores, Gavin Cecchini, and Matt Reynolds at the keystone. Bringing back Neil Walker would make a lot of sense. Likewise, the Mets could stand to add a reliever -- and perhaps another starter, to protect against their rotation suffering an injury during the spring. Heck, the Mets would also benefit from grabbing a righty outfielder who can spare Jay Bruce versus lefties.
Is any of that asking too much? Maybe. The point is, though, that the Mets could be taking advantage of the slow and depressed free-agent market to boost their chances. Instead, they're not -- and that's justly frustrating for a fan base who had to sit through a miserable 2017, just as they've sat through years of speculation about how much (or how little) their team has to spend on talent.
