The New York Mets, despite boasting the highest Opening Day payroll in MLB history at $331 million, were eliminated from playoff contention with a disappointing season
The New York Mets, who entered the 2023 MLB season with a record-high 26-man Opening Day payroll of $331 million, have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. The Mets' postseason dreams were dashed with a 10-inning, 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
This dismal season took such a toll on the Mets that they resorted to a mid-season sell-off at the trade deadline, parting ways with key players like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, and David Robertson. In a bid to facilitate these trades, the Mets even had to include a substantial amount of cash to cover the hefty $43.3 million salaries of Scherzer and Verlander, in exchange for promising prospects.
The Mets' elimination on Friday was a end of a season that had been heading downhill for quite some time, making it a hardly surprising outcome.
So, what exactly went wrong for the Mets?
Wealthy Ownership: The Mets had the backing of hedge fund titan Steve Cohen, widely regarded as the richest owner in MLB.
Experienced Manager: Buck Showalter, the reigning MLB Manager of the Year, was at the helm.
Strong Roster: They possessed a roster that boasted an impressive 101-61 record in the previous season, with the only major losses being Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker.
Key Signings: The Mets acquired Justin Verlander, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, on an $86.7 million contract, and Japanese right-hander Kodai Senga on a five-year, $75.5 million deal.
Notable Additions: Pham, Robertson, José Quintana, Omar Narváez, and Adam Ottavino joined the Mets on contracts totaling $71.5 million.
Farm System: They possessed the No. 11 farm system in baseball, including the No. 3 overall prospect, Francisco Alvarez, who played a position of need at catcher.
All these factors set the stage for the Mets to be contenders. Despite losing the division last season to the Braves in a tiebreaker, the Mets responded by investing over $200 million in free agents, developing their depth with seasoned MLB veterans. While they did lose three-fifths of their rotation, they appeared to have upgraded their pitching staff.
However, the Mets faced a barrage of setbacks early on, setting the tone for a season filled with adversity. Even before the season began, All-Star closer Edwin Díaz suffered a patellar tendon tear while celebrating in the World Baseball Classic. José Quintana's campaign was halted due to a stress fracture in his rib.