The New York Mets entered the 2026 season with legitimate World Series aspirations, but a disappointing campaign has left the club facing difficult questions about its roster, payroll and long-term direction.
With roughly a month remaining in the regular season, New York’s postseason hopes have faded considerably. Injuries have contributed to the disappointing year, but underperformance from several of the team’s highest-paid players has been another major factor.
That problem could become even more complicated in 2027.
According to a figure cited by Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, the Mets could be responsible for approximately $223.1 million in salary next season for eight players who have combined for only 1.5 bWAR in 2026. The situation illustrates just how much money New York could have committed to players who have not produced at the level expected when their contracts were handed out.
Expensive contracts creating pressure
The Mets have never been afraid to spend under owner Steve Cohen, and financial flexibility has traditionally been one of the organization’s biggest advantages. However, even a deep-pocketed franchise can run into problems when expensive contracts fail to produce enough value.
Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco are among the players whose first seasons in New York have fallen well short of expectations.
Polanco’s situation has been particularly difficult. The veteran infielder suffered an ankle injury that ended his season after just 37 games. He hit only .148 during that limited stretch and is scheduled to earn $20 million in 2027.
Bichette has also struggled to justify the enormous salary attached to his contract. The two-time All-Star has posted only a .704 OPS this season, a significant drop from the offensive production the Mets expected when they acquired him.
Bichette is scheduled to make $42 million next season, and there would be considerable surprise if he decided to exercise an opt-out and leave that money on the table after an underwhelming year.
Semien has similarly failed to provide the kind of production New York envisioned when adding him to the roster. Collectively, the struggles of these expensive veterans have placed additional pressure on the rest of the team.
Mets still have major stars
Despite the disappointing season, the Mets are not without building blocks.
Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor remain two of the most important pieces of the organization, and the club will be hoping they can help lead a much stronger response in 2027.
Soto represents one of the biggest investments in franchise history, while Lindor has established himself as a cornerstone of the Mets’ lineup. If both stars perform at their expected level, New York should have a strong foundation around which to rebuild its roster.
The problem is that superstar production alone may not be enough if too much of the payroll remains tied up in underperforming or unavailable players.
Cohen still has financial muscle
The good news for the Mets is that Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend gives the organization options that many other teams do not have.
New York can potentially add talent through free agency, trades or other roster moves, even while carrying significant financial commitments. However, spending more money will not completely solve the problem if the club continues receiving limited production from existing contracts.
The Mets will therefore have to make difficult decisions about how aggressively to reshape their roster while balancing their massive payroll obligations.
A rebound from Bichette, Semien or other struggling veterans would dramatically change the outlook. Likewise, improved health for players such as Polanco could provide the Mets with considerably more value than they received this season.
For now, though, the numbers paint an uncomfortable picture.
New York could enter 2027 with more than $223 million committed to eight players who have produced remarkably little in 2026. That does not necessarily doom the Mets to another disappointing season, but it does leave the front office with significantly less flexibility than the size of Cohen’s payroll might suggest.
The Mets built their roster to compete for a championship. Instead, they now face the challenge of turning a costly and underperforming roster into a contender again without allowing their massive 2027 commitments to prevent them from making the necessary upgrades.
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