New York Mets spending spree highlights MLB’s poverty franchises

The New York Mets are at it again.

They have continued to spend as though owner Steve Cohen was visited by the ghosts of baseball past, present, and future. Sneaking in and signing Carlos Correa after the Giants had balked due to medical reasons is just the cherry on the top of what has been an incredible offseason spending spree.

New York Mets highlighting MLB’s poverty franchises

With their signing of Correa to take over at third base, the Mets have new spent over $800 million in free agency this winter – and they may not be done. As Rustin Dodd of The Athletic pointed out, in 45 days, the Mets handed out five contracts larger than the biggest free agent deals ever signed by the A’s, Guardians, Pirates, Rays, Reds, or Royals in franchise history. This does come with the caveat that extensions for their own players do not count.

Those deals are somewhat laughable compared to the Mets. The Reds gave identical four year, $64 million contracts to Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos; Castellanos opted out after two years. The Guardians handed Edwin Encarnacion a three year deal worth $60 million, trading him two years into that contract. Alex Gordon was technically a free agent when he signed his four year, $72 million contract to return to the only organization he was ever a part of.

The A’s had two different contracts that could be considered, with Billy Butler getting a three year $30 million deal and Ruben Sierra signing a five year deal worth $28 million. The fact that Seirra signed that contract back in 1992 speaks volumes for the A’s since then. Francisco Liriano holds the record for the largest free agent contract in Pirates’ history – a three year deal worth $39 million. The Rays handed out their largest free agent deal in terms of the dollar amount recently with a three year, $43 million contract this offseason. However, Wilson Alvarez received the longest deal with his five year $28 million contract in 1997.

Yes, some of those contracts are a product of the times. But it is also clear that several teams just are not attempting to improve in free agency. Then there is a team such as the Mets, whose ownership is blasting through any luxury tax thresholds as he looks to win as many titles as possible. In doing so, Cohen is pointing out the true poverty franchises in the majors, and those teams, the Rays and Guardians excluded, that are not making an attempt to get better.

The New York Mets have signed five contracts larger than any free agent deal handed out by six MLB clubs. Chances are, they are not stopping.