NYTimes : Mets Watch Their Spending, Despite Minor League Concerns

The Mets are known for their conservative approach to the draft, particularly since signing Mike Pelfrey, their first-round choice in 2005, for $5.3 million with a $3.5 million bonus. Almost never do they offer bonuses that exceed the slotting guidelines recommended by the commissioner’s office. They signed their top pick in 2009, Steven Matz, for $895,000, about $388,000 more than what was suggested. But that extra money likely would have gone to a first-round pick, anyway, so the Mets were not really acting boldly. Callis said the Mets, the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros were the three teams that consistently did not go over slot.

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“Hardly any team has spent less than the Mets the last two years,” Callis said. “On the other hand, the team that has spent the most money is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who hardly have the revenue stream that the Mets do. They recognize that they can’t compete for free agents, but they can compete for amateurs.”