The Mets are set to remain one of baseball’s biggest spenders, according to owner Steve Cohen.
The hedge fund billionaire took to X on Friday to call out “idiots” for “misinterpreting” reporting from the New York Post about the club’s projected payroll in 2026.
“As typical, the usual idiots misinterpreting a Post article on Mets payroll for ‘ 26,” Cohen said in an X post. “I can’t imagine our payroll to be lower than last year. It’s always hard to predict but that would be my best guess.”
Last year, the Mets carried the second-highest payroll in baseball, spending $342,303,011, according to Spotrac. The Los Angeles Dodgers had the highest, spending more than $350 million on their World Series-winning team.
Cohen followed up with another post on X: “Payroll watchers always forget to budget for waiver claims, player movement from minors to majors and trade deadline moves. That’s how it typically works.”
The Post reported the 2026 payroll to be in the realm of $310-320 million. Previously, president of baseball operations, David Stearns, said he doesn’t believe that payroll cuts are a concern.
“I don’t think we go into an offseason with any set payroll number,” Stearns said in November at the MLB General Manager Meetings in Las Vegas. “Clearly, Steve is very committed to supporting our baseball team in any way possible, and as opportunities arise, he and I are in regular contact as to what might make the most sense for the team.”
Outfielder Juan Soto carries the highest AAV on his contract, set to make $51 million next season. Shortstop Francisco Lindor will make $34.1 million, Marcus Semien $24 million, and Sean Manaea $22 million.
The Mets have added only three Major League contracts this winter in free agency, bringing in right-handed relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver (pending a physical), and infielder Jorge Polanco, who will be paid $20 million to play first base for the first time in his career.
Cohen will always have his ardent defenders who believe that everything he does for the Mets is better than anything the Wilpon family would have done, but there is significant fan anger at the moment after watching Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso walk in free agency. Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers for Semien, a second baseman, despite the team already having several young infielders and veteran utility man Jeff McNeil.
Stearns has said run prevention and defense are the priorities for the offseason, but signing Polanco to play first doesn’t exactly fit with that. A switch-hitter coming off a fantastic season in Seattle, the Mets need him to provide right-handed protection for Soto in the order.
While much of the fan anger is directed at Stearns, the news of Cohen being granted one of three casino licenses in the city earlier this month has led many Mets faithful to wonder whether the owner is more preoccupied with the casino than the team. The casino isn’t slated for completion until 2030, and it’s expected to anchor Metropolitan Park, a sports and entertainment district Cohen hopes to develop around Citi Field.
