Despite a $350,000,000 Payroll, New York Mets Continue to Underperform as Surprising First-Place Winners Emerge in Each Division

Ever since billionaire Steve Cohen acquired ownership of the New York Mets, the team’s numbers have gone haywire. While the paychecks show eye-popping digits, performance stats reflect otherwise. What would have happened if Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez’s bid had been successful? Perhaps their World Series guarantee would have been realized because the current team is certainly struggling with no end to their suffering in sight.

The Mets continue to stand at the 4th position in the NL East with the fourth-worst NL record this year. Interestingly, the clubs that have pulled ahead in other divisions don’t boast overwhelming payrolls. And yet, they stand at number one.

New York Mets payroll continues to defy performance odds as Atlanta Braves dominate the division

The Braves currently hold the best NL East record at 51-27. The Mets, on the other hand, are trailing 35-43 at fourth place. If their payrolls are compared, the Mets, of course, stand in first place in all of MLB with an upward of $350 million salary. Comparatively, the Atlanta team ranks as the 8th highest with its wages. With MLB being the only sport out of the four major North American sports without a salary cap, the difference in standings can be dramatic. Wage disparity is nothing new in the sports world, but 2023 has set a record.

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The highest-paid vs the lowest-paid team in the league, the Oakland Athletics, has a whopping gap of almost $299 million. While the A’s have their own struggles this year, what with the demands of new owners amid relocation, the Mets are struggling despite a mostly healthy bullpen.

Instead, if one were to look at the other division leaders, the payroll difference might seem more shocking.

Cincinnati Reds are on opposite extremes with their numbers

Out of the 30 MLB teams, the Reds currently rank 25th on the pay grade scale. However, looking at NL Central’s standings, the clubhouse is in the second position. In a surprising twist of events this year, the Tampa Bay Rays have an astonishing 54-27 record at the top of the AL East. According to FOX Sports, the payroll of Bay Rays standing is even lower than Cincinnati, at 28th. Notably, the New York Yankees are the second highest-paying team and yet, they have not managed to climb up from the third position. Even more surprising teams have emerged as well.

The Texas Rangers topping the AL West with the 9th highest payroll. Eight places down the line, the Minnesota Twins rule the AL Central with the 17th-highest payroll. And in one of their strongest seasons yet, the Arizona Diamondbacks lead the NL West while being in the lowest 10 paygrade teams at 21st. Comparatively, the third highest-paying team, the San Diego Padres, continues to struggle in fourth place with their stars’ lack of performance.

Can the Mets take some inspiration from the rest of the league and reflect their paychecks on the field? While a postseason appearance is highly unlikely, fans are fed up with watching their team lose consistently.

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