The New York Mets already have the largest payroll in baseball and team owner Steve Cohen thinks it's going to only increase.
Cohen said the Mets "probably will" go over a $290-million payroll for the 2022 season.
New York's current payroll sits around $286 million after reportedly signing reliever Adam Ottavino on Sunday, according to a projection from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Steve Cohen says the Mets "probably will" go over the $290 million "Cohen Tax": pic.twitter.com/AGnu1T3MrA
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 13, 2022
A fourth luxury-tax threshold of $290 million was recently added in the new collective bargaining agreement. It has been dubbed the "Steve Cohen tax" due to the owner's willingness to spend.
Any team that goes over the fourth tax threshold will be subject to an overage fee of 80%, with that number rising to 90% on a second consecutive year and 110% on a third.
Mets owner Steve Cohen says he probably will go over the new $290 million CBT fourth threshold. Says having people call it the “Cohen tax” is better than having a bridge named after you.
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) March 13, 2022
The Mets have been one of the busiest spenders this offseason, committing $254.5 million to free agents Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Eduardo Escobar.
New York also traded for pitcher Chris Bassitt on Saturday. The hurler is projected to earn $8.8 million though arbitration this year.
