Steve Cohen Calls Out 'Idiots,' Downplays Concerns Mets Will Have Lower 2026 Payroll

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen had a very colorful way of explaining that he doesn't anticipate the team's payroll going down in 2026.

In a post on X, Cohen cited the "idiots" who misinterpreted a recent story in the New York Post about the Mets' payroll next season.

Cohen didn't help himself by posting a follow-up message citing waiver claims and minor-league call-ups as things that impact the MLB payroll.

Today marks the first time Cohen has posted on X since Sept. 29 when he apologized to Mets fans after the team collapsed over the final two months and missed the playoffs.

It certainly seems like tensions are getting high in Queens during an offseason that has been frustrating to this point for Mets fans.

Mike Puma wrote in his story for the Post on Friday that the Mets "estimate" their 2026 payroll will be somewhere between $310-320 million.

That would represent a drop of roughly $20-30 million from their 2025 payroll, which was the second-highest in MLB at $342.3 million. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers with $350 million in payroll allocations spent more last season.

It's worth pointing out that a payroll between $310-320 million would still be the second-highest in MLB as things currently stand, so it's not like Cohen and the Mets are suddenly getting cheap.

The problem for Mets fans is that they have already seen beloved players in Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz leave as free agents. They did sign Devin Williams even before Díaz joined the Dodgers, giving them someone a closer with a proven track record of pitching at a high level.

New York hasn't found an exact one-for-one replacement for Alonso, at least not yet. The team signed Jorge Polanco to plug the hole at DH, with Mark Vientos shifting to first base.

Any panic from Mets fans can be deemed premature because there are still many good players available in free agency, some of whom have been rumored to be on the team's radar.

The Mets have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. They're also rumored to have interest in pursuing a trade for Tarik Skubal.

Adding either one would take some of the sting out of losing Alonso, even if none of those players can immediately replace the connection Alonso had to the fans as a homegrown player.

If the offseason ends and the Mets' two biggest additions are Williams and Polanco, then the fan backlash they have received so far will be fair.