Every winter, it seems as though the Mets make offers to elite free agents, only for them to go to the Los Angeles Dodgers instead. It was beginning to feel a bit like a humiliation ritual until Friday, when the Mets signed infielder Bo Bichette, reportedly right before he was ready to sign with the rival Philadelphia Phillies. Finally, someone took Steve Cohen’s money. At this rate, FIFA will need to put a plan in place to prevent the world’s top footballers from defecting to the Dodgers during the World Cup this summer. There was significant trepidation when Cohen entered the league ahead of the 2021 season. The fear was that he would outspend every other team in baseball, throwing ungodly amounts of cash at the top players in the league, stopping at nothing in his quest to turn the Mets into a juggernaut. After five seasons under the ownership of the hedge fund billionaire, the Mets have made the playoffs only twice, while the Dodgers have won the World Series twice. An entire luxury tax tier was created in Cohen’s name, and yet it’s the Dodgers that have $2.11 billion on the books through 2047, including deferred payments, according to Spotrac. Cohen didn’t outspend the rest of the league, but his presence might have encouraged the Dodgers to do so. The Mets can keep up financially, but Cohen will have to decide if he wants to. It’s not that his money has been for naught. There has been tremendous progress made over the last five years in several areas of the organizations thanks to his investments. The player development department is churning out big leaguers, and state-of-the-art pitching and hitting labs have been installed in the club’s Port St. Lucie complex to aid minor league and Major League players alike. Upgrades to the family room at Citi Field might not seem like much to fans, but it’s helped wives feel supported and included. Cohen and his wife, Alex, have stressed the importance of family, and taking care of the families of players and coaches has helped the Mets land stars like Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. The Mets are even staying in nicer hotels on the road. Yet still, they’re struggling to get players to turn down the Dodgers’ money. President of baseball operations David Stearns has been criticized this winter for operating as though he’s still in a small market like Milwaukee, coming in with lower offers twice than Los Angeles twice. First, he failed to retain closer Edwin Diaz. This week, it was the best bat on the market, right fielder Kyle Tucker, who agreed to terms with the Dodgers on Thursday night for a four-year, $240 million contract with opt-outs. Truthfully, the Dodgers feel like a better fit for Tucker. A low-key, laidback player, Tucker just wants to rake without having the responsibility of being the focal point. Athletes have long loved Southern California for its beaches, its weather, and their ability to live a relatively anonymous existence there. Tucker might only be the fifth- or sixth-most popular player on his new team, and he’s sharing a market with the likes of Ohtani and LeBron James. In a city of Hollywood stars, his celebrity status barely even ranks. Of course, New York City has plenty of star power too, but it’s no secret that this is a notoriously tough place to play sports. The fans are intensely passionate. They celebrate each win, and agonize over every loss. They’ll boo you right off of your own home field, unafraid to express their displeasure with subpar performances. That doesn’t happen on the West Coast. In Queens, Tucker would have had to be one of the franchise faces. Gone are two of the biggest clubhouse presences in Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso. They’ve been able to take some of the attention and media responsibilities off of emerging players and quiet players. Like Tucker, Soto doesn’t particularly care for the spotlight. But without Nimmo, Alonso, or even Starling Marte, Soto might have to take on more of a leadership role alongside Lindor. Tucker seemed to understand these dynamics, and didn’t want to be a part of them. But if the Mets looked more like a contender, maybe things could have been different. Tucker knows what it takes to win, having helped the Houston Astros become a juggernaut. He’s played in 72 postseason games his career, helping the Astros win three AL pennants and a World Series in 2022. Winning is what will entice players to take Cohen’s money, and winning consistently will help elite players and their representatives see New York in a different light. Well, maybe that and an extra $10 million per year. The Dodgers have become the Golden State Warriors of baseball, grabbing all of the top players available just because they can. With MLB seemingly headed toward another lockout after the 2026 season, in part because of their spending, the Mets need to somehow find a way to become the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, knocking the dynastic kings off of their thrones to capitalize on this financial window before the game changes. ...read more read less