Very Early Look at 2020 Mets payroll
Another postseason without the Mets is upon us, so here’s something to distract you — a very early look at the possible 2020 Mets payroll. Obviously all of this is up in the air, what with the unpredictable Brodie Van Wagenen at the helm (not to mention the Wilpons controlling the purse strings). But here’s what it looks like thus far:
Jacob deGrom: $25,500,000 (actual)
Noah Syndergaard: $9,000,000 (est)
Steven Matz: $4,000,000 (est)
Marcus Stroman: $9,000,000 (est)
Starter: ?
Jeurys Familia: $11,666,667 (actual)
Justin Wilson: $5,000,000 (actual)
Robert Gsellman: $2,000,000 (est)
Seth Lugo: $2,000,000 (est)
Edwin Diaz: $4,000,000 (est)
Reliever: ?
Reliever: ?
Wilson Ramos: $9.250,000 (actual)
Tomas Nido: $600,000 (est)
David Wright: $12,000,000 (actual)
Robinson Cano: $20,250,000 (actual)
Jed Lowrie: $11,500,000 (actual)
Amed Rosario: $600,000 (est)
Pete Alonso: $600,000 (est)
J.D. Davis: $600,000 (est)
Yoenis Cespedes: $29,500,000 (actual)
Michael Conforto: $7,000,000 (est)
Brandon Nimmo: $2,000,000 (est)
Jeff McNeil: $600,000 (est)
Dominic Smith: $600,000 (est)
Center fielder: ?
The committed payroll for 2020 is $124,666,667 (thanks Familia for all the extra numbers). The arbitration estimate is $39,000,000 and the tab for players at or near the minimum comes out to $3,600,000. The grand total is $167,226,667.
That would be a Mets record, nearly $10 million more than this season’s Opening Day payroll, which was the record itself. And this is before the Mets add a starting pitcher, two relievers and probably a center fielder.
So here’s what has to happen for the Mets to field a contender — the Wilpons have to agree to dramatically increase payroll to around $180 million, maybe more.
Or maybe the Wilpons stand firm on the payroll, which means not only will the Mets cheap out on additions, they would have to dump some salaries. Will Van Wagenen finally pull the trigger on a Syndergaard trade to save some money and replace him with a cheaper alternative? That makes them less competitive, not more. Payroll cloggers Cano and Lowrie are untradeable (thanks Brodie).
No, the Mets cannot trade their way out of this. It is raise the payroll or bust. Hopefully not the latter. Stay tuned. It’s very early.