Having large financial flows helps to buy jewelry, high-end vehicles… but it is the furthest thing from happiness, especially when it comes to Major League teams.
The New York Mets, the team with the highest investment rate in the MLB market ($346 million), are a vivid example of the wrong deals this season.
In the winter, the Mets signed via free agent or extended contracts to closer Edwin Diaz (102 million for five years, he will be out all of 2023 after being injured in the World Classic); Justin Verlander (two years old, 86 MM; 2-4 record 4.50); Brandon Nimo (eight years old, 162 MM; 278-7-32) or a Max Scherzer, signed a year ago, who will earn 43 million in 2023 and the same amount in 2024 (6-2 4.04 this season).
Justin Verlander has been one of the financial mistakes of the Mets in 2023 (he will earn 43 million during 2023)
The Mets post records of a second-rate team (34-39, next to last in the NL East), adding to their calamity a paltry 12th-place batting average (.241) and ERA (4.62) in the NL.
New Yorkers are accompanied by a series of white-collar ninths that have either failed so far this season or have not performed as brilliantly as their spending. The Yankees are second in payroll (277 million), occupying third place in the AL East (40-33), placed third from last in their league in OBP (.298) and twelfth in average (.231).
San Diego has the third highest pay (249 million) in baseball. His mark (35-38) is only enough for a penultimate position in the West. They are second in the league in ERA (.379), but offensive laziness places them next to last in batting (.229), eleventh in runs scored (307) and third from last in slugging (.395), OPS (.713) and OBP (. 318), with everything and lining up Juan Soto, the transfer leader in the Majors (66).
The Phillies rank fourth in MLB investment, but are no better than third in the NL East (38-35). They are tenth in scored, seventh in ERA, in short their collective records do not occupy an important place in the league.
Among the teams that surpass the barrier of 200 million dollars, only Atlanta (203 MM), the best team in the National for the last five years, justifies so many expenses. They have the best record in the League (47-26) and have been the absolute masters of their division for the last five years.
Developing prospects and making proper financial adjustments have allowed Tampa (3rd from last at 73MM), Baltimore (60M, next to last), Cincinnati (83MM) or Arizona (116MM) to pat the big boys on the back and show them that money doesn’t always buy happiness.
