Sports
Mets owner overspent 'to get best team I can,' praises Dodgers' approach
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen (second from right) talks with reporters during the first day of a full-squad workout during Spring Training at Clover Park on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Port St. Lucie. Signing Juan Soto was only the start of the budget-shattering spending spree undertaken by Mets owner Steve Cohen in the offseason.
Cohen said Tuesday as the Mets continued full squad workouts in Port St. Lucie, Fla., that he felt it was necessary to go far beyond the planned financial limits to make sure his New York team was a World Series competitor.
“I take things year-by-year. I can finance it,” Cohen said. “But is it the most optimal way to run a team? Probably not.”
While the Mets leapt the competitive balance threshold and into “Cohen Tax” territory with a roster makeover, Cohen said his short-term focus is more than an expectation.
“We have to make the playoffs — that’s the minimum,” Cohen said. “After getting a taste of being in the league championship, we want to go to the World Series and we want to win.”
Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract as a free agent, jumping from the Yankees after also meeting with the World Series champion Dodgers.
The Mets are not part of the wave of MLB detractors ripping the use of deferred payments by the Dodgers in landing premium offseason prizes each of the past two winters. Cohen said the revenue the team is generating arms the franchise with the ability to add and spend when others cannot because, “their revenues are significantly higher than other teams. That gives them the ability to do things other teams can’t do, so kudos to them.”
Cohen called complaints, from prominent owners such as Cubs billionaire Tom Ricketts and crosstown Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, about the Dodgers deferring salary for Shohei Ohtani ($680 million) and more recent signings Blake Snell and Tommy Edman a “red herring.” Snell deferred $66 million on a five-year, $182 million deal. Edman signed a five-year deal worth $74 million, but $25 million of that sum is deferred.
Cohen pointed out the Dodgers are also paying massive guarantees up front with signing bonuses. Snell’s signing bonus was reportedly $52 million.
To bring the Mets toward the path of sustainable growth as a contender, Cohen is putting his focus on drafting and developing talent. The Mets are not planning to write massive checks every December and enter spring training with a payroll of $325 million. Only the Dodgers have a higher payroll this season. MLB will tax every team 60 percent for every dollar spent over $301 million on player payroll.
The Boston Red Sox used deferred payments in signing free agent Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal this month. Half of the contract is deferred, which helps Boston float under the MLB luxury tax threshold.
“I’ve always wanted to be a little more measured in payroll growth, and then it’s never quite there,” Cohen said. “I have the ability to spend if I have to and I want to win and put the best team I can on the field. But free agency’s expensive, that’s just how it is.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Scherzer returns Monday for Blue Jays on 42nd birthday
Jun 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) celebrates his career 3500th strike out against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Max Scherzer will celebrate his 42nd birthday by returning to the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation against one of his former teams.
Manager John Schneider announced Sunday that Scherzer will come off the injured list to start Monday’s series opener against the Nationals in Washington. Rookie right-hander Spencer Miles will be moved back to the bullpen.
Scherzer has not pitched in the majors since June 10. He landed on the 15-day IL the following week because of back spasms, then encountered another delay after receiving three cortisone injections in his right thumb during the All-Star break.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner cleared his final test Wednesday with Triple-A Buffalo, throwing five hitless innings while striking out seven. The only batter to reach did so on an error, and Scherzer threw 56 pitches with 40 for strikes.
Schneider said Toronto might limit Scherzer’s workload on Monday, but the veteran recovered well from the rehab start and met the club’s requirements for a return.
“Maybe a little bit limited in pitch count, but I think he kind of checked all the boxes,” Schneider said.
Toronto hopes the layoff allowed Scherzer to reset after a difficult opening half. He is 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA through six starts, allowing 25 earned runs over 22 innings.
His return is particularly timely for a rotation that has been tested by injuries. The Blue Jays have lost seven of their first 10 games since the All-Star break and are trying to remain in the American League playoff race.
Monday’s matchup also sends Scherzer to face the team where he achieved some of his greatest success. He played for Washington from 2015-21, winning two Cy Young Awards and helping the Nationals capture the 2019 World Series.
Scherzer owns a 222-121 record and 3.27 ERA over 19 major league seasons. He won another World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and reached the 3,500-strikeout milestone with Toronto earlier this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jadelyn Allchin's hot bat leads Talons to AUSL title
Jun 2, 2024; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; UCLA Bruins outfielder Jadelyn Allchin (40) hits a single in the third inning against the Stanford Cardinals during a Women’s College World Series softball losers bracket elimination game at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images Championship Series MVP Jadelyn Allchin homered, doubled and drove in three runs to lead the Utah Talons to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Bandits on Sunday at College Station, Texas, to win the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Championship for the second straight year.
Allchin hit a two-run homer in the first inning and an RBI double in the fourth to lead the Talons to the victory in the clinching Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series. Utah recorded a 2-1 victory over the Bandits in Game 1 on Saturday.
Bri Ellis and Sahvanna Jaquish also homered for the Talons. Right-hander Montana Fouts pitched a complete game and gave up eight hits. She struck out four and walked one.
Skylar Wallace drove in the lone Chicago run with a single in the seventh inning. It was her second hit of the game.
Bandits right-hander Kat Sandercock gave up four runs (two earned) and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Allchin’s double knocked her out of the contest.
The Talons also beat the Bandits in last year’s championship series in the first campaign of the AUSL.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Freddy Peralta says Sunday was 'probably' his final Mets start
Jul 20, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Freddy Peralta believes he may have made his final start for the New York Mets on Sunday, with the struggling club expected to trade the right-hander before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Peralta conceded the likelihood of a move after allowing three runs — two earned — on six hits and two walks over four innings in an 8-3 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He needed 93 pitches to record 12 outs and finished with three strikeouts.
“I know it probably is,” Peralta said when asked whether he believes that was his last time pitching for the Mets.
Peralta is currently scheduled to start Friday against the Miami Marlins, but New York has little incentive to retain an impending free agent after falling well outside the National League playoff picture.
The Mets acquired Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers during the offseason with the expectation that he would lead their rotation. Instead, the two-time All-Star has gone 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA through 22 starts, going at least six innings only six times.
His struggles have become more pronounced of late. Peralta has not recorded a quality start since June 3 and has posted a 7.34 ERA since that outing.
“I know so far I’ve let them down,” Peralta said. “I haven’t done what I was supposed to do.”
The 30-year-old entered the season coming off a career-best season going 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts over 176 2/3 innings with Milwaukee. That track record, along with the demand for starting pitching among contenders, should keep him among New York’s most marketable deadline pieces despite his recent results.
Peralta said he remains confident he can rediscover his previous form, whether that opportunity comes with the Mets or another organization.
“We haven’t done what we expected to do, in general, but especially myself,” Peralta said. “I know I can be way better than this. I still believe in myself. I was born to be a winner and not a loser. I think I have a lot in me, a lot to show. I know it can change because I still have time to make a change.”
–Field Level Media
Max Scherzer returns Monday for Blue Jays on 42nd birthday
Jadelyn Allchin's hot bat leads Talons to AUSL title
