New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson indicated Monday that the team is unlikely to go over $100 million for any free agent this year, reports Tim Rohan of the New York Times.
Mets unlikely to go over $100 million for a free agent
New York is likely out of the running for Shin-Soo Choo unless they change their mind and open up the checkbook.
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That means the Mets seem to be out of the running on outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, in whom the team had great interest. Choo is a a 20 home-run hitter who can steal bases, play good defense, and gets on base at an outstanding rate. He seemed to be a perfect fit for a New York team that needed all of those qualities and needs outfielders, but his price tag is too high. Choo has been rumored to be looking for a deal similar to the seven year, $126 million contract the Nationals gave Jayson Werth.
The payroll limitations also leave the Mets out of the running on other likely $100 million players such as Robinson Cano and Jacoby Ellsbury. Whether the self-imposed cap extends to Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is unknown. Instead, the team could focus on players such as Curtis Granderson, who is less likely to receive a monster deal.
The Mets have a little over $25 million under contract for next season and have been between $90-95 million in payroll each of the last two seasons. After arbitration and non-guaranteed contracts, the team is expected to have around $40 million to spend for 2014.
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