New York Mets rumors: Team looking to add contracts to make deals

The New York Mets have an advantage that few other teams in the league possess. Steve Cohen is not only the richest owner in the game, but he is also willing to spend anything it takes to bring a championship to New York.

That is evident in his spending habits. The Mets broke the bank in free agency, adding the likes of Max Scherzer and Starling Marte en route to the largest payroll in the majors. And they may not be done adding contracts.

New York Mets looking to use bank account to add pieces

Cohen’s willingness to spend could come in handy at the trade deadline. According to Bob Nightengale, the Mets are looking to improve their roster while keeping all of their top prospects. Instead, they are planning to take on bad contracts from other teams to make those deals happen.

Such was the plan this offseason. The Mets had been close to sending Dominic Smith to the Padres for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagan, and Eric Hosmer, with the Padres covering $30 million of his salary. That deal was scuttled because of concerns over Paddack’s medicals, something that was borne out when he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery after his trade to the Twins.

Such a strategy could work. The Padres, in particular, are against the luxury tax threshold with approximately $600,000 to play with. It is possible that discussions involving Hosmer could be restarted, or if the Mets were willing to take on Wil Myers, that would free up a bit of room for their own moves. Or, the Mets could talk to a rebuilding team, such as the A’s, and take on an onerous contract there.

This strategy could work well. Other teams may have better prospects, but no one else has Cohen’s cash resources and willingness to spend. The Mets could get those players they need without burning through their prospects after all.

The New York Mets do not want to part with their top prospects. Considering their willingness to take on bad contracts, they may not need to.