
Among the players who voted “no” today (in vain for them, of course) to the offer of the owners, we note the eight members of the subcommittee of the MLBPA. Five of them are clients of Scott Boras – including Max Scherzer.
Because the vote ended 26-12 in favor of the new collective agreement, that means that, among the players, 26 teams (via their official representative) voted for the return to play and four voted against.
Those who said no? The Mets (Max Scherzer’s team), the Yankees, the Cardinals and the Astros. We are talking about four clubs that spend a lot. Why?
Because the new collective agreement suggests that teams that exceed the fourth level of the luxury tax threshold will have penalties so big that it will encourage them not to exceed more than $ 290 million for 2022.
We call it the Steve Cohen clause because we know the Mets owner has the most to spend. It was for him that it was established.
Right now the Mets have a payroll more than $270 million, which means that they will exceed the third level, but not the highest.
The four tax thresholds in year one of this deal:
$230 million
$250 million
$270 million
$290 millionFWIW the current #put tax payroll projection from @fangraphs RosterResource:
$271.1 million
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 10, 2022
But that means there’s only $20M MAX left for the Mets, who also don’t want to sign a free agent who’s tied to a qualifying offer because of their mishandling of the 2021 draft.
Why do you think Max Scherzer (Boras’ client) voted no and the Mets rep also voted no?
This will ensure that the Mets can no longer add a ton of money to their salary envelope. Why do you think the other teams didn’t fall for it and waited AFTER the lockout to act?
That probably explains why the Mets won’t be all in on a guy like Kris Bryant, to name just one.
According to sources, a pursuit of Kris Bryant is not on the Mets’ radar (via @martinonyc)https://t.co/6OsImG29jm pic.twitter.com/SIrW291U7Z
—SNY (@SNYtv) March 10, 2022
Still, we know how much the roster would benefit from adding a Bryant, right? But there, it will be necessary to watch the division rivals in Philly, the Mariners and the Blue Jays in the file.
Same thing for a guy like Michael Conforto, whose name is circulating less and less in New York.
“According to sources with direct knowledge of the Mets’ thinking, a meeting with Michael Conforto is not on the radar” – @martinonychttps://t.co/uMJ4gqOLyA pic.twitter.com/ugWMfI3T63
—SNY (@SNYtv) March 10, 2022
In fact, you know what? I am wrong. He’s on New York’s radar.
But I’m talking about the Yankees. They have room on the payroll to add it and the option was considered in the Bronx in November.
Yankees Had Pre-Lockout Interest In Michael Conforto https://t.co/FQei4Cn3HS pic.twitter.com/QKKjJU6kKr
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) March 10, 2022
Obviously, the Mets could clean house and send wages elsewhere. This explains why JD Davis is unsure of his future.
The other teams, however, will see Billy Eppler arrive ten strokes ahead.
JD Davis says time with Mets may be over: ’60-40 out of here’ https://t.co/0JUHon4vUz pic.twitter.com/HJeNtBSbD4
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 11, 2022
No, nothing is ever easy with the Mets. Even when they want to open the financial valves, they can’t necessarily do it like everyone else.
To be continued, therefore.
Internally indications continue to be the Yankees preference when it comes to first base is getting a deal done with the A’s for Matt Olson but, as you’d expect, the asking price when it comes to prospects will be high
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) March 11, 2022
From a #BlueJays perspective, that means a lot of games vs Phils, Yankees, Tigers. https://t.co/zYI20Va8hE
— Ben Wagner (@benwag247) March 11, 2022
Re: Uniform advertising patches.
I’m told clubs have the choice of selling patches and will make their own deals. It’s not one universal patch.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 11, 2022