Mets' Cohen: Avoiding Luxury Tax 'Isn't a Goal' amid Pete Alonso Contract Rumors

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said that he isn't necessarily looking to get his team under the initial luxury tax threshold amid rumors about impending free agent first baseman Pete Alonso's future in Queens.

Cohen said, per Tim Britton of The Athletic, that next season's first luxury tax threshold of $241 million "seems far away" before adding:

"It just seems like that could be hard to do. We don't have to do that. I'm perfectly happy to finance us in a way where that isn't a goal of mine. If it were to happen, that would be fantastic. The reality is you've got to expect something in the middle someplace."

Increasing penalties are put into place for teams who exceed the luxury tax threshold by (a) a certain amount of (b) over a certain amount of years.

For example, a team spending more than $241 million next year in payroll for the first time would owe an additional 20 percent tax on all payroll spent above the $241 million limit.

That money can add over time, with teams over the tax for a third year or more forking over 50 percent on all overages.

This year's Mets have a $340 million tax payroll. It's certainly not an ideal spot for a team that faces an uphill battle just to make the postseason.

With all that in mind, there's concern about the future of a homegrown star in the 29-year-old Alonso, the three-time All-Star who's smashed 192 home runs in his five Mets seasons. He'll certainly be paid handsomely next offseason, but will it be from the Mets?

New York already has a bunch of holes on its roster to fill even with Alonso aboard. Cohen has deep pockets, for sure, but one has to wonder if it's better spent on filling out the team's gaps rather than giving Alonso a massive deal and continuing to pay luxury tax.

On the flip side, Alonso isn't part of the problem. He's carried the team's offense time and again and has been a great success story in Queens. The fan favorite has hit 37 or more home runs in each of the non-pandemic season, and his power doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Ultimately, the Mets (now led by president of baseball operations David Stearns) have some big decisions to make, Alonso being chief among them as the team moves forward.