4 ways the Mets can prove they're anywhere near becoming the East Coast Dodgers

4) The NY Mets should fight as dirty/creatively with the payroll as the Dodgers

Cohen should be stewing over what the Dodgers did by deferring $68 million per year of Shohei Ohtani’s contract. It’s not so much because he would have done the same but more about how he wishes he was the owner of the team who did it first. Thankfully, it does put a target on the Dodgers and not the Mets. Cohen has had a watchful eye on him since day one. If he did something as sneaky like this first, the Mets would be moved to Montreal.

It’s a dirty yet creative tactic by the Dodgers who circumnavigate the rules. Others will follow their lead. Undoubtedly, Cohen will look to do something similar if not exactly the same.

A can of worms has been opened up and to think the richest owner in the game won’t take a bite is insane. It won’t happen this offseason as the Mets don’t have that superstar to pay when he’s in his 40s instead of prime years. What about the Mets try this with extensions on younger players or even rework Francisco Lindor’s deal to allow them to creep under the luxury tax threshold each season? Surely David Stearns spent some time these last few days reading over the rule book trying to get a start on how they too can manipulate.

Hats off to the Dodgers for bending the rules.