2016 Mets Payroll at $136 Million

After the Mets stunning signing of Yoenis Cespedes, the estimated 2016 estimated Mets payroll now stands at just above $136 million. That is the highest Mets payroll since 2011, and $15 million more than anyone thought they would spend. Here’s how it breaks down:

Bartolo Colon: $7,250,000 (actual)
Matt Harvey: $4.325,000 (actual)
Jacob deGrom: $600,000 (est)
Noah Syndergaard: 600,000 (est)
Steven Matz: $600,000 (est)
Zack Wheeler: $600,000 (est)

Jerry Blevins: $4,000,000 (actual)
Carlos Torres: $1,050,000 (actual)
Josh Edgin: $625,000 (actual)
Addison Reed: $5,300,000 (actual)
Antonio Bastardo: $6,000,000 (actual)
Jeurys Familia: $2,000,000 (est)
Sean Gilmartin: $600,000 (est)
Hansel Robles: $600,000 (est)
Erik Goedell: $600,000 (est)

Travis d’Arnaud: $600,000 (est)
Kevin Plawecki: $600,000 (est)

David Wright: $20,000,000 (actual)
Asdrubal Cabrera: $8,250,000 (actual)
Ruben Tejada: $3,000,000 (actual)
Lucas Duda: $6,000,000 (est)
Wilmer Flores: $600,000 (est)
Neil Walker: $10,000,000 (est)

Yoenis Cespedes: $27,500,000 (actual)
Curtis Granderson: $16,000,000 (actual)
Juan Lagares: $2,500,000 (actual)
Alejandro De Aza: $5,750,000 (actual)
Michael Conforto: $600,000 (est)

So now the actual salaries are now $111,550,000. The estimates are $24,600,000, for a grand total Mets payroll of $136,150,000.

I imagine Sandy Alderson never thought this would happen because he definitely would not ave signed Alejandro De Aza. He might have also taken a pass on Bartolo Colon and Ruben Tejada. Those three will make $16 million between them and none of them is really necessary (Rafael Montero or a much cheaper free agent alternative could have easily filled Zack Wheeler’s spot in the rotation until he comes back).

But in any case, Cespedes is on the team, and that’s what we all wanted. It is clear the Mets are going for it. Good for the Wilpons to approve the signing. It must have been a tough pill for them to swallow; unless they found a new Ponzi scheme in which to invest!