Never Too Early: 2015 Mets Payroll Projection

With the Mets, it is never too early to look at the next season’s possible payroll. The Mets payroll for 2014 checks in at a paltry $84,951,365 according to the excellent Cots Baseball Contracts. It is safe to assume 2015’s payroll will not be substantially higher. Let’s go with a target of $90 million, since it is possible the Mets think they might compete and spend a few more bucks.

So here is the possible roster and Mets payroll for 2015:

Bartolo Colon: $11,000,000 (actual)
Jonathon Niese: $7,050,000 (actual)
Dillon Gee: $6,000,000 (est)
Zack Wheeler: $550,000 (est)
Matt Harvey: $550,000 (est)
Jacob deGrom: $550,000 (est)

Bobby Parnell: $4,000,000 (est)
Jenrry Mejia: $550,000 (est)
Josh Edgin: $550,000 (est)
Vic Black: $550,000 (est)
Jeurys Familia: $550,000 (est)
2 relievers: $1,000,000 (est)

Travis d’Arnaud: $550,000 (est)
Anthony Recker: $550,000 (est)

Lucas Duda: $4,000,000 (est)
Daniel Murphy: $9,000,000 (est)
Wilmer Flores: $550,000 (est)
David Wright: $20,000,000 (actual)
Eric Campbell: $550,000 (est)
Ruben Tejada: $1,500,000 (est)

Curtis Granderson: $16,000,000 (actual)
Juan Lagares: $550,000 (est)
Eric Young: $2,000,000 (est)
Matt den Dekker/Kirk Nieuwenhuis: $550,000 (est)
Left fielder: ???????

You’ll notice there are six starters listed, and that’s not even including Noah Syndergaard.

Guys like Ruben Tejada and Eric Young are listed, but they might not make the final cut, but let’s keep them here for now.

The Mets have a formula for figuring out pre-arbitration salaries. For simplicity purposes I put each one at $550,000.

So the Mets have just $54,050,000 committed for next season. The estimated salaries come to $34,668,100 (let’s just call it $35,000,000). That comes to $89,050,000, which is almost the entire budget. And that does not include acquiring a starting left fielder.

This is why it is so important to trade Colon and his $11 million salary. Niese or Gee might also have to go in order to obtain that much-needed outfield slugger and fit him in the budget, as well as clearing a spot for Syndergaard.

In any case, there certainly is room in the Mets payroll to add another power hitter, but Sandy Alderson is going to have to swing a few trades to make it work.