Mets payroll unlikely to change in 2013
In a report for ESPN New York, Adam Rubin says the Mets are unlikely to increase their payroll for the 2013 season.
Rubin writes:
“Although general manager Sandy Alderson publicly said last week a formal budget has not been established for next season, the Mets are likely to have a payroll comparable to the slightly more than $90 million they have committed in 2012, according to a person briefed on the current internal planning.”
Rubin says Sandy Alderson could sign new free agents to a lower base salary for next season and back-load those contracts, but the source noted Alderson’s concerns for those kinds of long term contracts.
The Mets already have $80.5 million committed to Johan Santana, David Wright, Jason Bay, R.A. Dickey, Frank Francisco and Jon Niese for the 2013 season alone.
Mike Pelfrey ($5.7 million), Jon Rauch ($3.5 million), Ramon Ramirez ($2.65 million), Ronny Cedeno ($1.15 million), Scott Hairston ($1.1 million) and Tim Byrdak ($1 million) are eligible for to become free agents.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
(Posted Aug. 15)I don’t expect payroll to be more than $100 million next season, based on what I recall hearing back in March.Basically, for the budget to be more than that, the team needed to drive deep in to September and sell a ton of tickets, which isn’t going to happen. The thing is, even if they had, and even if the budget was more than that, I’m not sure they would be spending a ton of money on new acquisitions this winter anyway… mostly because the talent isn’t available.
The Mets could be flush with cash, and I still wouldn’t expect Alderson to spend $20 million on an average starting pitcher when he has Jon Niese, Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey slated for his rotation and Johan Santana making $30 million next season.
I think the big moves this winter will be in locking up David Wright and RA Dickey on long-term contract extensions, which will end up costing at least $150 million.
Also, as Peter Gammons pointed out in an interview with WFAN earlier this week, no other team in the National League is expected to spend a ton of money this winter either, especially with the Phillies bogged down in contracts like they are and given how much trouble the Marlins are now in.
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