The Mets have spent more money on major-league contracts via free agent signings this offseason than they have in any other year since 2008 – almost a decade ago and before the news of the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme wreaked havoc on the Mets ownership and thus team finances as well.
The signings of Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker, Jerry Blevins and Fernando Salas amount to $136.2 million, which is a major uptick in what the team had been spending in years prior. Since the “Madoff scandal” first began to impact the Mets’ payroll situation in 2011, the team has spent over $100 million on acquisitions just once: Last season. So this could be the new normal for the Mets, although nothing is ever a sure bet with the Wilpons.
Here is a list of how much the Mets have spent each offseason since 2005, when they signed Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran soon after general manager Omar Minaya replaced Jim Duquette:
2016-17: $136.2 million
2015-16: $110.5 million (Includes Cespedes and Cabrera.)
2014-15: $22.45 (Includes Michael Cuddyer.)
2013-14: $87.25 (Includes Curtis Granderson and Bartolo Colon.)
2012-13: $4.75 million (Includes Shaun Marcum and Brandon Lyon.)
2011-12: $17.8 (Includes Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco.)
2010-11: $8.05 (Includes Chris Capuano.)
2009-10: $75.35 (Includes Jason Bay.)
2008-09: $79.5 (Includes Francisco Rodriguez)
2007-08: $171.45 (Includes Johan Santana‘s $137.5 million contract extension signed after his trade to the Mets.)
2006-07: $52.38 (Includes re-signing Guillermo Mota and Orlando Hernandez.)
2005-06: $47.7 (Includes Billy Wagner.)
2004-05: $199.1
A lot of fans have criticized the Mets for spending like a small-market team. Well, it’s hard to imagine the Rays or the Athletics ponying up $110 million to keep their best offensive player. Just ask Josh Donaldson about that one.
The team has said for years that once the team starts contending, they would start spending more in accordance with that performance. It’s happening.
So, yeah. You can’t call the team “cheap” anymore, though many fans still probably will if the team struggles out of the gate.
