The Mets aim to buy a World Series title. The Braves may grow one

The Mets are right behind the Dodgers in spending. But their NL East rivals could be up for success via another route

You know the old saying about correlation not implying causation? Well, sometimes the two are related. A look at the highest payrolls in MLB reveals that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets lead the pack. The Dodgers and Mets also happen to have the best winning percentages in baseball.

That the Dodgers are on top of both these standings isn't shocking: this is a team that won it all in 2020 and entered the year as favorites in the National League. The Mets, however, are used to being second in both spending and winning in their own city thanks to crosstown rivals, the Yankees.