Mets Don’t Have Luxury Tax Threshold Problems Unless Steve Cohen Says They Do
When evaluating what the New York Mets do this offseason, the team has to balance building a competitive 2021 roster with their ability to re-sign players. Part and parcel of that is building a sustained winner and not a typical Wilpon style one and done team.
As noted previously, the Mets have to evaluate their priories when looking to extend Michael Conforto, Francisco Lindor, Steven Matz, Marcus Stroman, and Noah Syndergaard. Keeping that quintet is going to be difficult.
That is going to become all the more complicated based on what the Mets continue to do this offseason. Players like Brad Hand and George Springer will be expensive. That affects the Mets ability to spend in 2021 and the ensuing years.
Sure, you can point out the Mets have money coming off the books at the end of the year. It’s a significant amount too with Jeurys Familia ($11.67), Dellin Betances ($6), and Brad Brach ($2) in addition to the aforementioned players.
However, as noted, the Mets have significant players who will require significant money. On top of that, after 2022, key players like Brandon Nimmo and Seth Lugo are free agents. Exacerbating that is Jacob deGrom having an opt out, and the Mets having a team option on Carlos Carrasco.
You really have to wonder how the Mets are able to keep this going without surpassing the luxury tax threshold. On the other hand, why are people so concerned when the Mets aren’t?
Jared Porter on luxury tax threshold, "No, it's not something we have to have a line in the sand on."
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) January 8, 2021
At some point, everyone became concerned about the luxury tax threshold. Maybe, it was watching the Wilpons operate the Mets for a decade. Maybe, it was the rumors floating around the owners were going to limit the Mets ability to spend as a condition of his buying the team.
Whatever the case, there is only one man who has concern about the Mets spending, and that’s the man cutting the checks. At the end of the day, the only person who truly knows the Mets ability and willingness to exceed the threshold is their owner Steve Cohen.
That’s nothing to say of the expiring CBA. For all the hand wringing about the current constraints, those parameters are going to be readdressed and reset after this offseason. On that front, it makes little to no sense to get over wrought about provisions not set and not really dickered.
At the moment, the only people who should be concerned about the Mets ability and willingness to surpass the luxury tax threshold in 2021 and beyond is the Mets front office. Well, them and the National League East who has to contend with the sudden Mets juggernaut.
For the rest of us, the luxury tax threshold is merely a talking point with only guesses as to the Mets true intentions.
Love the look to the site, nice work. Also like your take here. People are who the are. The owners are not Steve Cohen’s boss and he plays to win at everything he does. The payroll us what he says it is.
Thank you Rich
Do I need to post Cohen’s comments that he wants to stay below the luxury tax threshold this season? It’s not that difficult to find.. There’s all this talk about staying below Luxury Tax Threshold because it is Cohen’s preference.
cano
If it goes over this season, it will surely be two consecutive seasons, if not more in 2022, onward.. Cano will be back on the books. Conforto, Syndergaard and Lindor have to be extended or we lose them to free agency.
i
No, but I think you need to go back over the article with more up to date statements from the GM
Ken Rosenthal Today:
“If I’m Steve Cohen, I don’t know why I’m worrying about the luxury tax threshold so much. In the next CBA, there might not be a luxury tax or higher thresholds.” -Ken Rosenthal on MLB Now,
Nice of Ken to echo statements made by the Mets GM and myself today
Several days later – Porter fired as Mets no GM and Springer too expensive and thus signs with Blue Jays.
You do know Porter wasn’t fired because of his statements about the luxury tax, right?
I see a pattern with the Mets this year. That Pattern is the Mets want to get the Top Free Agent. But they don’t like or want the
Negotiation to drag on. They will go so long before the start to look at other options. JT was dragging his feet, How long has the George Springer Negotiation going on before Thanksgiving plus the set a general salary that is it. As for McCann I think the delayed the annual salary was set but the year and bonus were being worked out plus he was talking with the Mets the other two not sure about them dealing. That’s why I think Lindor’s Negotiation will move fast. Michael Concord is a different story because his agent like to really push it not to often does he agree before client is a free agent.
This was Sandy’s MO during his first tenure with the Mets. Lock up who you can at key positions early and then let the market come back to you for the rest