Mets' $495 Million 2023 Season Deemed "Most Expensive Failure Ever" by Critic

New York, NY – The New York Mets' 2023 season, which saw the team finish with a disappointing 75-87 record despite the highest payroll in Major League Baseball, has been sharply criticized as the "most expensive failure ever." The sentiment was expressed by Benjamin Weingarten, who took to social media to lament the team's performance under owner Steven A. Cohen.

Weingarten's tweet, directed at Cohen, stated, "Most disappointing team in #Mets history. Three months of ‘23, late ‘22, ‘21, ‘19, ‘08, and ‘07 combined." He further added, "It has been slow-motion drowning with little urgency from the players or front office." The team's 2023 performance marked a significant drop from their 101-61 record in 2022, making them only the fourth team in MLB history to have a losing season immediately following a 100-win campaign.

The Mets' payroll for the 2023 season reached approximately $384 million, incurring an estimated $111 million in luxury tax, bringing the total cost to nearly $495 million. This unprecedented spending, fueled by owner Steven A. Cohen's estimated $21.3 billion net worth, failed to translate into on-field success, as the team missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons. Cohen, who purchased the team in 2020 for $2.4 billion, has consistently demonstrated a willingness to invest heavily in player talent.

Weingarten also highlighted the team's inability to "string together two straight years in the playoffs," a point underscored by their 2022 Wild Card Series exit and the subsequent 2023 collapse. The Mets had entered the 2023 season with high expectations, but a 7-19 record in June derailed their campaign, leading to the mid-season trades of key players like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

The criticism from Weingarten, a conservative commentator and senior contributor at The Federalist, reflects a broader frustration among fans regarding the team's underperformance despite significant financial investment. The tweet concluded with a direct challenge to the owner, asking, "What say you @StevenACohen2?" as the team navigates its future after a season many consider a profound disappointment.