Mets vs. Dodgers Is Most Expensive Series in MLB History, How Much Is Total Payroll?
Nearly $800 million worth of talent will be taking the field or sitting in the dugout when the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets open their three-game series on Monday.
ESPN.com noted this will be the most expensive matchup in MLB history in terms of player payrolls. The Dodgers have $413.2 million on the books for 2026, with the Mets trailing behind them at $378.3 million.
The expenditures for both organizations could surpass $500 million when factoring in competitive balance taxes.
Neither Los Angeles nor New York shied away from headline-grabbing moves in the offseason despite comfortably outspending their peers in 2025.
The Dodgers signed star closer Edwin Díaz for three years and $69 million, while outfielder Kyle Tucker is making an average of $57.2 million annually on his four-year deal.
The Mets, meanwhile, overhauled their offense by adding Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr. and Jorge Polanco. They also bolstered the pitching staff by acquiring Freddy Peralta and signing Devin Williams. The trio of Bichette, Semien and Williams combine to earn $84 million per year.
L.A. is seeing a far better return so far. The Dodgers are off to an MLB-best 11-4 start. The Mets, on the other hand, are in last place in the National League East at 7-9.
It's way too early for fans in the Big Apple to panic. Should New York get outclassed by the two-time reigning World Series champions, though, the level of consternation is only going to grow.
A fanbase that watched the Mets miss the playoffs in 2023 and 2025 despite sparing no expense will already start to feel the creeping suspicion history is repeating itself.
