New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is "extremely worried" about the future of his franchise, citing a regression in the team's prospect development and future financial limitations. Cohen shared his concerns in an interview with The Post's Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on Wednesday, expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of the team's farm system.
"Good teams develop players and have a pipeline of players," Cohen stated. "When we looked at last year we were generally feeling pretty good about our farm system. We’ve had regression in our farm system. Now I’m told that ‘development isn’t linear.' It isn’t like some straight line where everything goes up."
Cohen also highlighted the challenge posed by significant future contract obligations. He noted that several large contracts could opt in for the 2027 season, including those for infielder Bo Bichette, outfielder Luis Robert Jr., and starting pitcher Clay Holmes. This financial commitment, he explained, could approach $300 million in 2027, depending on player opt-ins, leaving little room for flexibility.
"Between signings where we couldn’t get the players on the field and some lack of performance from some of our younger players, it set us back," Cohen said. "When you think about, OK, where is the help going to come from, it’s really concerning to me."
Adding to the uncertainty, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire after the current season, with expectations of a potential work stoppage. Cohen acknowledged that the rules governing future operations are unknown.
"I don’t know what the rules are going to be going forward in the new CBA. I may be restrained. In that case, I always say, ‘Tell me the rules, and I’ll operate under any construct,'" Cohen said.
Despite the financial and developmental challenges, Cohen indicated he remains committed to investing in the team when asked if he would continue to spend big money, assuming no salary cap is implemented. "Listen, I make a good living. OK?" he responded with a chuckle.
The Mets currently have at least $229 million in projected payroll for the upcoming season, factoring in contracts for players like Juan Soto, Bichette, and Francisco Lindor. Cohen did not speculate on potential changes to the team's front office or internal processes as his concerns grow.