Payroll Blues Sweep Five Big-Market Clubs in 2026

The Mets aren’t alone in a payroll-fueled slump: Phillies, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Astros join them in underperforming, with a combined 43-74 through Tuesday, making them early contenders for the season’s biggest disappointment. The piece argues the blame lies more with front-office architects (Stearns, Dombrowski, Brown, Atkins, Breslow) than managers, though ownership influence and continued pressure on Mendoza, Thomson and Espada—despite notable extensions and resumes—complicate the path forward for these high-profile clubs.