Way-Too-Early Post-2025 Season Mets Payroll Outlook

The 2025 baseball season is slowly approaching. The New York Mets have made several moves during the offseason that will impact their payroll both presently and going forward. As it stands, the Mets’ current competitive-balance tax (CBT) 40-man payroll sits at $296.1 million. A figure, pending any additional moves, that currently sits $60.4 million less than the end of the 2024 season.

Thanks to a plethora of “dead” money coming off the books as well as free agents, the Mets’ payroll decreased a huge amount from the ending of 2024 to the beginning of the 2025 offseason. As it stands now, how much money is expected to come off the books at the end of the 2025 season in advance of the 2025-26 offseason?

After the 2024 season, the Mets had 10 pending free agents and a shade over $70 million in dead money tied to only three players coming off the books. As a result, the Mets’ payroll dropped from the 356.5 million mark it was at to end the season to a figure just below $200 million. Of course, the Mets have added since then, including the huge move in bringing in Juan Soto. All that considered is how their CBT 40-man payroll of $296.1 million, which was previously mentioned above, came about.

As it stands, the Mets have four notable pending free agents entering 2025. These are Starling Marte, Jesse Winker, Griffin Canning, and Paul Blackburn. The total money that will come off the books when those deals expire is $36.55 million. The largest of which is coming from the $20.75 million from Marte’s expiring deal.

In addition to those simple pending free agents, there are also several Mets that have an option or opt out tied to the conclusion of the 2025 season. Among those are Edwin Díaz ($18.5 million player option), Frankie Montas (opt out), and A.J. Minter (opt out). Technically, each of these players can opt out at the end of the 2025 season freeing up more money for the Mets, in addition to the $36.55 million mentioned above.

In comparison to the end of 2024, there should be a lot less turnover than there was this offseason. However, despite this, there will be a good chunk of change coming off the books. That figure will vary from anywhere between $36.55 million and roughly $83 million (pending opt outs and options). This will once again give president of baseball operations, David Stearns, plenty to work with prior to the 2026 season.

Note, Kodai Senga has an opt out in his deal as well, however, he can only exercise if he hit 400 innings over 2023-25 which is extremely unlikely. 

All contract information above provided by Cot’s Baseball Contracts. 

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