Case in point? The New York Mets.The Mets are one of baseball's richest teams.Billionaire owner Steve Cohen, after taking control in 2020, committed to building a model organization, combining immense financial resources with established front office success.
Starting with the 2022 season, the Mets have spent more on player payroll than any other team in baseball at $1.671 billion.Yes, even more than the Los Angeles Dodgers.METS OWNER STEVE COHEN BACKS TEAM'S ARCHITECT OF BRUTAL SEASON, SAYS TEAM WILL 'LIVE THAT CONTRACT OUT'They gave star shortstop Francisco Lindor a 10-year, $341 million contract before the 2022 season.
They signed Max Scherzer to one of the highest average annual value contracts in baseball history.Late in the 2023 season, Cohen hired Dave Stearns from the Milwaukee Brewers to overhaul the front office.
Stearns had built the Brewers into a consistent contender, despite the inherent payroll limitations in a small market.New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) looks on during an at-bat against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Nationals Park in Washington, District of Columbia, on Aug.19, 2025.
(Amber Searls/Imagn Images)Yet as the highest spending team in baseball over the past five seasons, the Mets have just two postseason appearances to show for it.They lost to the Padres in the 2022 wild card series, then to the Dodgers in the 2024 NLCS.
In 2023, despite all their money and star power, they went just 75-87 and finished 29 games out of first place.After 2024, Stearns and Cohen added Juan Soto on the most expensive contract in sports history; 15-years and $765 million, with the potential to exceed $800 million.The reward? Missing the playoffs again in 2025 after an 83-79 regular season.METS BRUTAL SEASON COMES TO HEAD WITH 6-ERROR GAME IN DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP, CHANTS FOR FORMER STAR OUT OF ANGERStearns, instead of running it back in 2026 with a similar roster, went for an overhaul.
Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimo...