Expensive NY Mets injured list mustn't hinder them in other free agency decisions

A running theme throughout the David Stearns era of New York Mets baseball has been a willingness to pay injured players to sit out and rehab. It worked with Brooks Raley this past year, but he was only out for the first few months of the season. It’s a little different when players like Drew Smith, who was signed last offseason, was inked to a deal where it was already known he’d miss an entire season.

A clever way to build up some additional depth, there comes a point where you need to back off. Steve Cohen has yet to put his foot down on spending money. However, we have seen signs of budgetary constraints. Why else would they have passed on Jose Quintana last offseason?

Because the Mets will be operating above the “Cohen tax” where money starts to get charged at a 110% penalty, they need to be wise about some of their money choices. This could include some tough calls with their injured players who could be non-tendered in the coming weeks to help save a little more cash.

The Mets already have $20 million spent on guys we won’t see at all in 2025, unless they make some changes

Frankie Montas makes up the majority of this dead money with a $17 million contract for the coming year. Lower paid players still in their arbitration years is where we start to see the total build up even more.

MLB Trade Rumors predicts Tylor Megill will make $2.6 million. Reed Garrett will make $1.4 million. More likely to return but not guaranteed is Max Kranick at $1 million. The $5 million might not seem like a lot. It can buy a half-way decent bullpen arm. Keep the $5 million around and suddenly a $5 million free agent costs $10.5 million.

The Mets haven’t shown restraint with the payroll to any great extent where we need to think they’ll operate on a tighter budget this coming year. Stud pitchers like Nolan McLean making league minimum helps. However, with a bullpen that’ll need to undergo major changes, the need for one really good starting pitcher (and no money coming off the books at this spot on the roster barring a trade) along with the Mets requiring the services of a big bat named Pete Alonso or equally as good, we can see how the payroll will quickly become one of the highest in baseball yet again; as it should be.