Reds’ Shocking Playoff Surge: What $222M Left Behind Reveals About MLB’s Power Shift

If the MLB playoffs were to kick off right this second, Cincinnati Reds fans would have something to cheer about, while New York Mets supporters might be biting their nails in frustration. Right now, both the Reds and Mets sport identical 80-76 records with six games remaining, but the edge belongs to Cincinnati thanks to a critical head-to-head tiebreaker that’s steering them toward that coveted final wild card spot in the National League. Yet, when you peek beneath the surface—specifically at the layers of cash teams are shelling out on players—the story twists dramatically. The Mets are practically flush with cash, their $341 million payroll standing as the league’s second-highest, dwarfing the Reds’ more modest $119 million tag. To put it bluntly, star Mets like Lindor and Soto earn more combined than every active Reds player on the roster, creating a jaw-dropping $222 million gap that ranks as the eighth largest payroll disparity in all of MLB. Meanwhile, across the diamond in the American League, a similar tug-of-war plays out between the leaner Cleveland Guardians, with their $101 million roster, and the cash-heavy Houston Astros, who’ve dropped $233 million this season. Both teams are neck and neck with a combined 84-72 record, just trailing the Boston Red Sox, who are rolling a $200 million payroll—and a hefty $245 million if you factor in luxury tax bills. The stakes hit deeper than just numbers, though. The Mets, once atop the league standings back in June, have stumbled, losing 11 of 15 and slipping precariously in their postseason fate. And for teams like the Reds, playoff appearances aren’t just prestige—they’re a financial lifeline, especially for those players earning under a million bucks annually. This clash of wallet sizes, on-field grit, and playoff dreams is happening against the backdrop of looming salary cap talks that could reshape baseball’s economic landscape come 2027. So, amid all the drama and dollars, where does that leave the fans and front offices alike? Well… you might just want to keep an eye on Ohio. LEARN MORE.

If MLB’s playoffs started today, the Cincinnati Reds would be in, and the New York Mets would be out.

The Reds and Mets both have an 80-76 record with six games to play; the only thing currently separating the two teams in the race for the National League’s final wild card spot is Cincinnati’s head-to-head tiebreaker. But their place in a ranking of baseball payrolls is a different matter altogether.

The Mets spent the second most on players this year—their $341 million salary ledger trails only the Dodgers’ $350 million mark. The Reds, meanwhile, are 22nd in player spending at $119 million, according to Spotrac. New York’s Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto make more between them than every active Cincy player combined. The $222 differential between the rosters would itself be the eighth biggest tab in MLB.

A similar battle is playing out in the American League. The Cleveland Guardians would be the lowest-paid team in the playoffs, with a $101 million roster, if they can hold off the Houston Astros, who are spending $233 million this year, the sixth most in MLB. The Guardians and Astros are tied at 84-72 entering Tuesday. Both clubs are also only a game behind the Boston Red Sox, who rank 12th with a $200 million payroll. The Sox number jumps to $245 million when including their luxury tax obligations.

In June, the Mets boasted MLB’s best record, but New York has lost 11 of its last 15 games—and control of its playoff destiny. Their slide has also kept the Arizona Diamondbacks alive. The Diamondbacks are one game back, though FanGraphs only gives the team a 6% chance of playing in October.

Playoffs can be lucrative; Dodgers participants earned close to $500,000 each during their 2024 World Series run. That cash would be particularly meaningful for the 12 active Reds competitors getting less than $1 million in salary this season.

The dueling wild card races are playing out amid increased chatter about the potential of a salary cap coming to MLB after the current collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of 2026. A cap was a key sticking point in the negotiations that ultimately led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series.

Mets struggles could help cool the clamor for a cap, especially with the Dodgers not currently looking like a juggernaut, either. LA currently has just a 1.8% chance to claim a bye, according to FanGraphs’ projections. At present, six of the top 10 highest-spending teams are slated for postseason appearances, with the Texas Rangers (seventh in payroll) and Braves (eighth) also on the outside looking in.

“How do we compete?” one midsized-market team president told ESPN recently. “We try to do everything right. We draft well. We develop well. And then we get the s— kicked out of us by clubs that buy their players.”

One answer? Look to Ohio.