PORT ST. LUCIE — Steve Cohen is addicted.
The emotional high of last October, when the Mets won two postseason series and finished within two victories of the World Series, is a feeling the team owner says he has never experienced.
And now he wants it every year — with the ultimate goal of winning a World Series title.
“How much fun was that?” Cohen asked rhetorically Tuesday at Clover Park in his annual spring training press conference with reporters. “I don’t know if I ever felt anything, that type of emotion that was almost on a daily basis. When you get that feeling, you want more of that.”
Cohen carried that sensation into the winter and called upon it as he considered the new season.
Reaching the postseason will be considered the barometer of success, and if the Mets reach the October tournament enough, Cohen is taking the approach that his will eventually be the last team standing.
Juan Soto is the top attraction, with Pete Alonso back to provide lineup protection for the Mets’ newest star.
The Mets refurbished their rotation by adding Frankie Montas (who is already sidelined to begin the season with a high-grade lat strain), Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning before re-signing last season’s ace, Sean Manaea.
“I think it’s a team that is going to produce runs,” Cohen said. “I think our pitching is going to surprise people. The other thing is, we’re flexible. If we have to make changes or improve the team during the year, we saw what we did in 2024 and we’ll do it again.”
Cohen admitted the goal heading into the winter was to keep his payroll below $301 million — the top-tier luxury tax threshold.
By surpassing that number (the Mets’ payroll for CBT purposes stands around $325 million), Cohen is paying a 110 percent penalty on each dollar on the overage.
The team has also lost draft positioning.
“It always seems like ballplayers are more expensive than you think,” Cohen said. “It comes back to having a farm system that is producing players, because they are controllable, they are cheaper. You need a mix, and I think we’re going to get there. I hope we get there soon, and if we get there I think that really makes it easier to get a more normal spending level.”
Cohen expressed disappointment in the Mets’ attendance last season — the team averaged 29,484 fans at Citi Field, which ranked 17th in MLB.
The owner cited a September home series against the Nationals (with the Mets in the heat of a playoff race) as one example of the lackluster turnout.
The Mets drew fewer than 25,000 fans in each of the first two games of the series.
“I didn’t like it — that really bothered me, [17th] in attendance when you are right in the middle of a pennant race,” Cohen said. “I am really hopeful this year. I am told attendance usually lags performance.”
In addition to his talent, Soto — who arrived on a record 15-year contract worth $765 million — should provide a drawing card to Citi Field.
“I would call it a secondary consideration,” Cohen said. “And when you get a chance to get a generational player like that, they don’t grow on trees. And when you actually look at it, it might have been a while before someone of that caliber was available again.”
Then again, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (who turns 26 next month) announced Tuesday he will be headed to free agency next winter after failing to reach a long-term agreement with the Blue Jays.
Cohen urged caution in assuming the Mets will automatically pursue the slugger.
In addition to Soto, the Mets have Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo locked into long contracts.
“With payroll considerations, you really can’t have too many long-term contracts because then you lose your roster flexibility” Cohen said. “You have got to be real careful. But I will let my baseball people make that decision.”
