New York Mets owner Steve Cohen downplayed a potential pursuit of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the Toronto Blue Jays first baseman expected to enter free agency next offseason.
"I mean, you really can't have too many long-term contracts, because then you lose your roster flexibility, so you gotta be really careful," Cohen said Tuesday, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. "But I'll let my baseball people make that decision."
Cohen called Guerrero a "great ballplayer" after the four-time All-Star announced that he wasn't able to reach a contract extension with the Blue Jays before his self-imposed deadline Monday.
The 68-year-old Cohen added that he'd like his team to be below the highest competitive balance tax threshold of $301 million, which is named after him due to his excessive spending since joining the majors in 2020.
"I would like to get below 'The Cohen Tax,'" Cohen said. "We sure it's about me? There's a lot of Cohens out there."
New York's current projected payroll sits at around $325 million (second highest to only the Los Angeles Dodgers) after a busy offseason, which included signing Juan Soto to an MLB-record 15-year, $765-million deal and bringing back Pete Alonso on a two-year, $54-million pact that could see the slugging first baseman opt out after 2025.
The Mets reportedly spoke with the Blue Jays this winter about the possibility of trading for Guerrero before re-signing Alonso.
