Mets-Dodgers is matchup of MLB's biggest payrolls The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face off in what is shaping up to be the most expensive series in Major League Baseball history. The 2026 matchup features the two teams with the highest competitive balance tax (CBT) payrolls in the league, with the Mets carrying a $375 million-plus CBT payroll and the Dodgers holding the MLB-high $413.5 million CBT payroll. When combined with their respective tax bills, the total player expenditure for the 2026 season exceeds $1.07 billion, marking a historic financial showdown in baseball. The Dodgers’ 2026 CBT payroll alone surpasses the combined payrolls of the bottom four teams in MLB—the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, and Miami Marlins. Meanwhile, the Mets’ payroll eclipses the combined totals of the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Guardians, and Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers’ estimated tax bill for 2026 is $161.9 million, which is higher than the total tax payrolls of 12 other teams, while the Mets’ $120 million tax bill exceeds the combined tax payrolls of six teams. The combined salaries of the four highest-paid players on both teams—Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, and Bo Bichette—exceed the total payroll of 14 MLB teams. This figure is within $400,000 of the Seattle Mariners’ payroll, which ranks as the second-highest in the league. The New York Yankees are the only team besides the Mets with a payroll within $100 million of the Dodgers’ total. The Philadelphia Phillies rank fourth in the league at $312.7 million, which is $100.8 million less than the Dodgers’ payroll. The 2026 series is the most expensive in MLB history, surpassing the previous record set in 2025 when the Mets and Dodgers combined for a $764 million payroll.#shohei_ohtani #los_angeles_dodgers #juan_soto #new_york_mets #kyle_tucker
Former Mets All-Star closer predicted to lead NL in saves with Dodgers During the 2026 MLB offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets were closely tied to several top free agents, with their competition for Kyle Tucker culminating in a $240 million, four-year deal for the Dodgers. Another significant move involved the departure of an All-Star closer from the Mets to the Dodgers, where he signed a three-year contract worth over $60 million. MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa noted that 57 of his staff members predicted the new Dodgers closer, Edwin Diaz, would finish the season with the most saves in the National League. This outcome would be a setback for the Mets, who lost a key reliever, but a major advantage for the Dodgers, who have struggled with bullpen depth in recent years. Diaz, a 32-year-old reliever, has been among the league’s best closers over the past few seasons. In 2025, he posted a 1.63 ERA with a 38% strikeout rate while saving 28 games for the Mets. His performance last year solidified his reputation as a reliable late-inning option, though his save total was lower than in previous seasons. In 2024, Diaz recorded 20 saves in 54 games with a 3.52 ERA, a decline from his 2022 season, when he had a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 61 appearances. His best season came in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners, where he saved 57 games with a 1.96 ERA in 73 games. Now with the Dodgers, Diaz is expected to serve as the full-time closer, a role that aligns with his strengths. The team’s recent struggles in the bullpen have created a need for a dependable closer, and Diaz’s track record suggests he could thrive in that position. If he consistently performs as a shutdown reliever for the Dodgers in 2026, leading the National League in saves would be a logical outcome.#los_angeles_dodgers #new_york_mets #mlb_com #edwin_diaz #kyle_tucker
