Mets have highest payroll in baseball for first time since 1989
Mets owner Steve Cohen talks to the media at spring training camp, Sunday March 13, 2022 in Port St. Lucie FL. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa Loarca
MILWAUKEE — With the richest owner in baseball, the Mets this year have had the payroll to match.
They have spent more money on player personnel than any other club, entering the last month of the season on pace for a $273.9 million total, according to numbers obtained by The Associated Press.
The Mets haven’t led that list since 1989 (when they had a $21.3 million payroll).
The Dodgers, at $267.2 million, dropped into second because they haven’t needed to pay Trevor Bauer, whom MLB suspended for 324 games for violating the domestic violence and sexual assault policy. The Yankees are third at $254.4 million.
For the Mets, Max Scherzer leads the way at $43.3 million, the highest average annual salary in MLB history. Other team monetary leaders include Francisco Lindor ($32.5 million), Jacob deGrom ($27.3 million) and the long-gone Robinson Cano ($24 million).
Personnel news
The Mets optioned righthander Stephen Nogosek and lefthander Alex Claudio to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. That made room for Scherzer and Tylor Megill, who returned from the injured list.
The roster decisions will get tougher when the Mets need to activate Drew Smith (Tuesday) and Mychal Givens (TBD; he’s on the COVID IL). The Mets’ pitching staff is as healthy as it has been all season, so they don’t have any obvious options on whom to cut.
“It’s a good problem,” manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s not going to be pleasant.”
Extra bases
Steve Cohen was in attendance for the Mets’ potential postseason clincher. against the Brewers. In the event of a loss Monday, he planned to stay in case they do it Tuesday or Wednesday . . . Showalter on the alleged ghost at The Pfister Hotel, used by the Mets when in Milwaukee and said to be haunted: “I made peace with him last night when I got in. I said, hey, it’s you and me, pal. Or gal. I don’t know who it is.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
