Mets Want To Lower Payroll, Maximize Profits

It seems almost like a slap in the face, but the Mets intend to lower their payroll in 2009. The New York Times writes, As of Tuesday, even the idea of signing Raul IbaA?ez sounded like a longshot as word coming out of the Met camp is that the Wilpons are determined not to raise their payroll from last season, and ideally would even like to lower it from last year's $143 million. This seems rather insulting to a fan base that has suffered through two straight September collapses and knows very well that a new stadium means considerably more revenue for Mets ownership next season. As I said Tuesday, the $20 million-$25 million annually the franchise will be receiving from CitiCorp for naming rights ought to ensure a bump in payroll, all the more so with taxpayers now paying at least some of the freight. The Mets will become the first major sports franchise to lower their payroll in their first year of opening a new stadium. While most teams raise payroll significantly when the us...