Brief

Mets Outspend Dodgers Despite Last-Place Finish

The Mets’ record payroll did not translate into success, contrasting sharply with low‑budget teams that made the postseason.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:14:04 GMT

The New York Mets, with the highest payroll in Major League Baseball at $346.8 million, finished last in the National League East with a 74‑88 record, according to the Los Angeles Times. In contrast, the Cleveland Guardians, spending only $74.2 million, earned a first‑round bye and a berth in the American League Division Series. The article notes that twelve of the thirty MLB teams qualified for the postseason, with eight of those having payrolls in the top ten. The Dodgers, the Mets’ closest payroll rival, also finished the season with 100 wins but did not win a World Series since 1975. The piece highlights the disparity between high‑spending teams and lower‑budget overachievers, noting that the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox also reached the playoffs on payrolls under $100 million.

Key facts

• Mets payroll $346.8m, finished 74‑88 (latimes.com)
• Guardians payroll $74.2m, earned ALDS berth (latimes.com)
• Twelve of thirty MLB teams made the postseason (latimes.com)
• Dodgers won 100 games but no World Series since 1975 (latimes.com)

Sources

• [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “Woeful Mets outspend the Dodgers while Rays, Guardians and White Sox win on the cheap”