Taking Stock Of The Mets’ Payroll Situation

Despite the New York Mets’ historic signing of Juan Soto, the team is still in a terrific spot when it comes to its finances. Soto’s $51 million a year deal raises the Mets’ total competitive balance tax (CBT) 40-man roster payroll to $248.5 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. A figure that is still in a much better spot than it was last year.

Currently, the Mets’ CBT 40-man payroll ranks fourth-highest in the big leagues. For comparison sake, the Mets ended 2024 with a CBT 40-man payroll of $356.5 million, which was by far the highest in baseball (Yankees were second at $310 million). They would have to increase their current total payroll by $108.1 million to finish where the team was last season.

Of course, the higher the Mets increase their payroll, the more penalties they may subject themselves to. Below is a breakdown of what penalties the Mets may face as they continue to fill out their roster for 2025.

Potential Penalties

The first CBT threshold sits at $241 million. That is baseball’s “soft cap,” this season. As the above indicates, the Mets have already broke through that level, which is their fourth-straight season doing so, subjecting themselves to pay 50% tax on all overages. Further, as the Mets spend more and more and get distance themselves from that $241 million baseline, as they are likely to do once again, surcharges will be applied.

You can find that breakdown below:

• $261 million to $281 million: 12% surcharge
• $281 million to $301 million: 45% surcharge (would be the fourth-straight year)
• Over $301 million: 60% surcharge

Note, clubs that are $40 million or more above the threshold shall have their highest selection in the next Rule 4 Draft moved back 10 places unless the pick falls in the top six. In that case, the team will have its second-highest selection moved back 10 places instead.

You can read a more in-depth explanation on the potential penalties here.

Final Thoughts 

As it stands, based where the Mets’ current CBT 40-man roster payroll is ($248.5 million), they are already $7.5 million over the first threshold. The Mets still have $12.5 million before the first surcharge threshold, $32.5 million before the second surcharge threshold, and $52.5 million before the third and final surcharge threshold.

As you can see, the Mets are currently in a lot better of a spot than they ended at last season. Of course, it would appear extremely unlikely that New York would want to replicate their historically high payroll of 2024, however, they do still have a ton of room to work before they even sniff the level they were at last season.

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