A lot has been made of the New York Mets’ payroll recently. Specifically, where it may up by the time the season begins. With that being said, let’s take a look at where the team’s payroll currently sits and where it may be by the time the season starts.
Currently, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Mets have a competitive balance tax (CBT) 40-man payroll of $309.3 million. This figure sits second only to the Los Angeles Dodgers. For reference, last season New York ended the season at $338.2 million.
Based solely off what they did last year, the Mets are $28.9 million shy of their payroll in 2025. As it was made clear this past weekend, owner Steve Cohen does not believe the team’s payroll will be lower than it was last season. With that, where is a realistic range to see the Mets’ payroll in 2026 with outstanding moves still to be made?
There is a chance that the Mets’ payroll can theoretically decrease. There has been talks of both Jeff McNeil ($12.5 million) and/or Kodai Senga ($14 million) can be moved. If both are moved the Mets can technically see their payroll shrink from $309.3 million to $282.8 million. It is more likely to see only one of the two be moved.
As for the current roster, it should be expected the Mets add another top-to-middle level starting pitcher and an established left fielder/outfielder. Those are likely their last two “splash moves,” to occur that would add considerable payroll. How much payroll would by allocated in those two moves?
Recent Padres’ signee Michael King, likely a comparable level pitcher the Mets will want to bring in, signed for $25 million annually. Another Padres pitcher, which the Mets have had reported interest in, Nick Pivetta, carries an annually payroll hit of around $24 million. With those as baselines, you’d expect the Mets to add a starter with a $20 million-to-$25 million CBT payroll annually.
As for the left fielder/outfielder need, Cody Bellinger, who the Mets have also reportedly shown interest in, is projected to sign a five-year deal worth $140 million according to MLB Trade Rumors. This is about a $28 million hit to the payroll. Another rumored outfield option has been Luis Robert Jr., he carries a payroll hit of $20 million. You’d expect an outfield option the Mets bring in to sit somewhere in the $20 million-to-$28 million range.
Between a starting pitcher and a legit option in the outfield, the Mets are likely looking at around $40 million-to-45 million in additional payroll. You also have to factor in any other minor moves the Mets make, like bringing in another reliever reinforcement or depth at a position like first base. Those ancillary moves could total another $15 million-to-$20 million. That is around another $55 million-to-$70 million in payroll the Mets likely need to add to field a contending team in 2026.
With that being said, it is probably fair to subtract a contract like McNeil ($12.5 million) who seems poised to be traded. Subtract that, and add around $65 million and it would not be surprising to see the Mets come in at around $360 million in payroll. For comparison sake, the Dodgers were at a league-high $415.2 million last season. The Mets were second at the previously mentioned $338.2 million. In 2024, New York was at a league-high $356.5 million. One would expect them to be much closer to that figure in 2026.
