The New York Mets, with a record-shattering $382 million Opening Day payroll in 2026, are experiencing a dismal season. As of early June, the team held a 26-33 record, seven games under .500, and were in a significant divisional deficit. This follows a trend of increasing payrolls, from $299 million in 2022 to $374 million in 2023 when they went 75-87. Despite the massive investment, the Mets are currently on pace for over 100 losses, making them the only team in the league with such a projection.
Compared to other high-spending teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, the Mets' financial strategy has not yielded similar success. The Dodgers boast the highest tax payroll at just over $416.6 million and are two-time reigning World Series champions with a 24-16 record. The Yankees, with the third-highest payroll at just over $337 million, are 26-15 and considered the scariest team in the American League. The combined competitive balance tax spent by the Mets and Dodgers in 2026 exceeds $1.07 billion.
Several key injuries have impacted the Mets, including Kodai Senga, Jorge Polanco, Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., and Edwin Díaz, all currently on the Injured List. However, critics argue that a team with a payroll nearing $382 million should have sufficient depth to overcome such absences. The Mets' adjusted payroll totals $334,892,580, with a significant portion, $103,525,641, allocated to players on the injured list, the second-highest in MLB. Steve Cohen, the Mets' owner with an estimated net worth over $20 billion, has consistently invested heavily since buying the team in 2020, with payrolls ranking first or second in MLB since 2022, in an effort to win a World Series.
