Will The Mets Spend In 2011?

In a post on ESPN New York yesterday Adam Rubin detailed why he believes the New York Mets are unlikely to be spenders come 2011 (click here to read full article).  Rubin points out that the team will have nearly $113 million in payroll committed to the contracts of 9 returning players:

Johan Santana $22.5 million
Carlos Beltran $18.5 million
Jason Bay $16 million
David Wright $14 million
Oliver Perez $12 million
Francisco Rodriguez $11.5 million
Jose Reyes $11 million
Luis Castillo $6 million
Ryota Igarashi $1.75 million

Adam also determined that even if the Mets filled their roster with 16 players at the major league minimum, they’re already looking at a 2011 payroll approaching $120 million.  Considering the team has operated above $130 million for the past 3 seasons, it doesn’t immediately look as though they would have a difficult time adding middle tier free agents.  Of course it also isn’t likely that they’ll have 16 players sign for the league minimum.  So what it boils down to is whether or not the team decides to cut payroll or expand their budget.  Rubin believes the former is the more likely scenario:

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It doesn’t take much to surmise the Mets won’t be throwing around big dollars this winter.  Attendance will further plummet, and therefore revenue. The Madoff effect is what it is. And, perhaps most importantly, the money already is spent.”

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Photo by Michael Baron

From where I stand, I simply wouldn’t be surprised to see New York open up their wallets for the simple fact that they have shown a propensity to do so in the past.  Whether or not the players have panned out as hoped, the fact that the front office has gone out and brought in top of the line players via free agency or trade over the past 5 years can’t be overlooked.  I’ve put together a list of some of the team’s acquisitions (does not include players that were resigned) during Omar Minaya’s tenure as well as the team’s corresponding payroll for that year.  Regardless of how you feel about the man behind the Oliver Perez contract, Minaya has a talent for pulling at the Wilpon’s purse strings that is undeniable:...TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST AND OTHERS LIKE IT HEAD TO METSZILLA.COM BY CLICKING HERE:

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