David Wright has played his last game for the New York Mets, but the former star is still a factor in the team’s finances.
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the New York Mets will save $6 million on David Wright’s contract this year after removing him from the 40-man roster. Wright will defer the money until 2021.
“Upon removal from 40-man roster 1/7/19, Wright assumed a special assistant role in the Mets’ front office and agreed to restructuring of his 2019 salary, receiving $4M in advance (to be paid 1/10/19), deferring $6M at 2.5 percent interest compounded monthly (to be paid in three $2M payments due each July 1, 2021-23, with interest paid 12/31/23), and receiving the balance of his 2019 salary during the 2019 season”
So the Wilpons are planning on investing this $6 million back into the roster, right? Unfortunately, that’s wishful thinking for Mets fans. Past is prologue. History tells us that the Wilpons are happy to hold onto this money for the time being.
Obviously, $6 million is a drop in the bucket and that amount of money can only go so far. But anytime the Mets are saving money, it’s a reminder to the fanbase that money has come before winning for the organization for a long time.
Signing Wilson Ramos, Jed Lowrie, and Jeurys Familia isn’t fooling anyone. Those aren’t franchise-changing moves that take any real commitment from ownership. At best, they are minor moves that strengthen the overall depth of the team. But are Lowrie or Familia going to catapult the Mets into the World Series conversation? Of course not.
There are two free agents out there who would do just that for manager Mickey Callaway’s ball club — Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.
Both superstars are generational talents that would establish the Mets as heavy favorites to win the National League East. But rather than opening up their coffers for either player, the Mets will continue to pinch pennies. Although they do offer the fanbase exciting signings like a utility infielder or a setup reliever.
First-year general manager Brodie Van Wagenen is doing a commendable job considering he probably won’t ever have the chance to pursue a big-time free agent. He’s making creative trades and signing solid MLB players.
But wouldn’t it be nice for the Mets to back up the Brinks truck for a legitimate superstar? They play in the largest market. There is no doubt they have the money to sign either Harper or Machado.
But we all know that isn’t happening.
