These are the ten highest paid players on the New York Mets for the 2013 season. The Mets have a very top-heavy payroll this season, and, unfortunately, one of their highest paid players this season is not even on the team anymore.
The New York Mets entire payroll for 2013 is $90 million, down some 4.44% from last year's $94 million. The Mets payroll this season is the eighth highest in the National League, and 15th highest in major league baseball.
Combined, the ten highest paid Mets players listed below for the 2013 season are making $82.43 million. That represents 91.6% of the New York Mets total payroll this season. Top-heavy indeed.
Note, Bobby Bonilla, who has not played in the major leagues since 2001, is making $1.93 million from the New York Mets in 2013 in deferred salary. I did not include Bonilla below.
Highest paid players on New York Mets in 2013
1. Johan Santana - $25.5 million
The highest paid player on the New York Mets for the 2013 season is pitcher Johan Santana, who is making $25.5 million this season.
What is it with the Mets? Santana had a good year for the team in 2008, but missed the entire 2011 season, and has been a disappointment overall. He joins a long list of big money free agent disappointments the Mets have signed (Mo Vaughn, Jason Bay, Bobby Bonilla).
Johan Santana is in the last guaranteed year of his contract with the New York Mets. The team has a $25 million option on him for 2014, or they can buy him out for $5.5 million. Look for Santana to pitch well this season, as he is essentially pitching for a new contract.
2. Jason Bay - $18.125 million
Even though the Mets released Jason Bay, they still owe him $18.125 million for the 2013 season. Bay is trying to make the Seattle Mariners, and has been showing power this spring, something he did not show with the Mets.
3. David Wright - $11 million
David Wright will make $11 million this season in the first year of his new big money long-term contract with the New York Mets. Wright's salary will jump to $20 million in 2014, and stay there through the 2018 season. Then David Wright will make $15 million in 2019, and $12 million in 2020, when he will be 37 years old.
T-4. John Buck - $6.5 million
Including a $500,000 signing bonus, catcher John Buck is making $6.5 million this season. Buck will be a free agent after this season, so he's playing in 2013 for a new contract. Normally, that's a great thing for a team, but John Buck is just not a good enough hitter for that to likely matter. His career batting average is .235, and he hit .192 in 2012.
T-4. Frank Francisco - $6.5 million
The Mets signed reliever Frank Francisco to a two-year, $12 million free agent contract in late 2011, that will pay him $6.5 million in 2013. Francisco was a disaster in 2012, pitchingtot a 5.53 ERA. Look for him to be much better in 2013, as he's pitching for a new contract.
6. Shaun Marcum - $4 million
The Mets signed starting pitcher Shaun Marcum to a one-year, $4 million free agent deal this winter. That looks like a great deal to me for the Mets, if Shaun Marcum is healthy. Marcum is 33-19 with a ERA well below 4.00 over the last three seasons. He missed time during the 2012 season, though, with shoulder and elbow problems.
7. Ike Davis - $3.125 million
First baseman Ike Davis is making $3.125 million this season. Davis, the son of former New York Yankees reliever Ron Davis, is entering his prime as a hitter, as he will be 26 years old in 2013. Ike hit 32 home runs in 2012, and he is certainly a threat to make the list of players who hit the most home runs in a season for the New York Mets.
8. Jonathan Niese - $3.05 million
Including a $50,000 signing bonus, starting pitcher Jonathan Niese is making $3.05 million this season. Based upon his minor league stats, 39-32 record with 3.75 ERA, I've always believed Jonathan Niese would be a decent major league pitcher. He was 13-9 with a 3.40 ERA in 2012, and should be good again in 2013.
9. Daniel Murphy - $2.925 million
Daniel Murphy is making the eighth most money on the New York Mets in 2013, with a salary of $2.925 million. I don't know what the Mets are looking at if they think Daniel Murphy is an everyday player.
Other than a decent batting average, Murphy does nothing well. His career run scoring average is .122, which is below that of an average major league player.
10. Bobby Parnell - $1.7 million
Bobby Parnell is a great bargain for the New York Mets this season. Parnell, who pitched to a 2.49 ERA in 2012 in 74 games, is making only $1.7 million this season. The Mets should just give Parnell the closer job and leave him alone. He will produce.
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