Mets owner wants winner, but excessive spending not 'optimal' - ESPN

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said he had a payroll budget in mind when the offseason began, but he had «blown through» that number by the time players reported for spring training.

«Because I want a winning team,» Cohen said Tuesday at Clover Park, the Mets' spring training home. «And I want to get the best team I can on the field.»

The Mets' current projected payroll is approximately $325 million — second in baseball to the Los Angeles Dodgers — after an offseason that included giving star Juan Soto the richest contract in professional sports history. That is well over the highest competitive balance tax threshold of $301 million, which comes with a 60% surcharge on every dollar spent over that mark widely referred to as «The Cohen Tax» in honor of the Mets' owner.

«I would like to get below 'The Cohen Tax,'» Cohen said. «We sure it's about me? There's a lot of Cohens out there.»

Cohen estimated the Mets' payroll will likely increase to around $340 million over the season with other expenditures, including in-season player acquisitions. The hedge fund billionaire — Forbes estimates he's worth more than $21 billion — can afford the investment. He just doesn't believe having payrolls that large will lead to sustained success.

«I can finance it,» said Cohen, who joked that his spending is nothing compared to the Dodgers. «But is that the most optimal way to run a team? Probably not.»

Instead, Cohen said he wants to create a farm system to churn out young, cheap and controllable talent under president of baseball operations David Stearns and avoid dabbling in free agency to upgrade the roster as often.

«I've always wanted to be more measured in payroll growth,» Cohen said. «I never get there. It's