Mets to Pay Highest Luxury Tax Due to Fourth-Place Finish

The 2023 New York Mets had a tough season. Many people expected them to do well, especially after they won 101 games in 2022. But things didn't go as planned.

Even though they spent a lot of money, about $374.7 million, their performance was disappointing. They ended up with a 75-87 record. To make matters worse, they had to pay a record luxury tax of over $100 million. This is much more than what the Dodgers paid in 2015 when they had to pay $43.6 million but still did better on the field.

The Mets didn't even make it to the playoffs. Their owner, Steve Cohen, spent over $474 million, and they only finished fourth in their division. This makes them the most expensive disappointment in baseball history.

They almost signed a big contract with a player named Carlos Correa, but it didn't work out.

Some other teams also had to pay luxury tax, like the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, and the Texas Rangers who won the World Series.

Injuries hurt the Mets a lot. Some of their best players, like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, were not at their best because of health issues. Edwin Diaz, a key player, couldn't play the whole season due to an injury. Other players like Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte also didn't perform as expected. Pete Alonso, who did well the year before, didn't play as good either.

Because of these issues, the Mets had to sell some of their players before the season ended. Now, people are not very hopeful for the 2024 season, especially with uncertainties about Pete Alonso's future. They also missed a chance to sign a talented pitcher named Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Mets have an owner who is ready to spend a lot of money to win. But as the saying goes, money can't always guarantee success in baseball.