The New York Mets are probably one of the most improved teams of the offseason. Yes, they lost some key players, especially pitchers (Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, and Aaron Loup signed with other teams), but they brought in quality and quantity before the lockout.
They inked outfielders Starling Marte (four years, $78 million) and Mark Canha (two years, $26.5 million), while also adding infielder Eduardo Escobar on a two-year, $20 million pact. The coup of the winter, however, was definitely ace Max Scherzer, who agreed to come to New York on a three-year, $130 million deal.
The Mets, however, still have some work to do, and according to MLB Network Jon Heyman, they aren’t done spending and improving their roster. “Have heard Mets might consider signing another significant pitcher and hitter once the lockout ends, on top of Scherzer, Marte, Canha and Escobar,” he wrote.
Have heard Mets might consider signing another significant pitcher and hitter once the lockout ends, on top of Scherzer, Marte, Canha and Escobar. If so $270M payroll could approach $300M.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 31, 2022
The Mets’ payroll could approach $300 million
If that’s the case, the Mets’ payroll could certainly approach $300 million. Owner Steve Cohen said when he took over the team a couple of years ago that he wasn’t afraid to spend in order to make the Mets an elite team, and so far, he is delivering on that promise.
He has already given a mammoth contract to Francisco Lindor (10 years, $341 million), plus the mentioned investments on Marte, Canha, Escobar and Scherzer and other expenditures before last season, most notably James McCann.
The 2022 Mets are currently missing at least a couple of starters. Jacob deGrom and Scherzer will lead the rotation, and David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Carlos Carrasco, and Taijuan Walker are also on the roster. A contender can’t have just six viable starters, though: nowadays, the number is around eight or nine, even ten.
Only time will tell if Heyman’s report is true and the Mets will bring in another top starters, but they do have options via free agency (Carlos Rodon, Clayton Kershaw, Danny Duffy) and the trade market (Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Tyler Mahle, Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo).