The New York Mets face ongoing challenges in replenishing their minor league system through the annual draft due to spending-related penalties imposed by Major League Baseball. Despite the financial resources available under owner Steve Cohen, the team has seen its draft position and number of selections reduced for the fourth consecutive year as a result of exceeding the league’s second Competitive Balance Tax threshold.

For the 2026 draft, which is set to take place Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia during All-Star festivities, the Mets’ first-round pick will drop from the 17th spot, based on lottery results, to the 27th position. In addition, the club has forfeited two other draft picks this year. Kris Gross, the Mets’ vice president of amateur and international scouting, expressed familiarity with the challenge but emphasized the need for flexibility in selecting players.

“Obviously when you’re picking [at No.] 5, you have a little more clarity. So as we pick 27, we’ll just cast a wider net,” Gross said during a Zoom conference ahead of the draft. He outlined plans to pursue multiple options, having deployed scouts to evaluate a particularly deep talent pool this year that features strong high school and college pitching as well as college hitting prospects. “The talent is pretty spread equally,” he added.

The penalty system that penalizes the Mets has been a consistent obstacle since 2023, when their first-round choice was moved to the 32nd spot, costing the team several valuable draft selections over the past years. Those reduced picks have yielded mixed results: outfielder Carson Benge, the 19th overall pick in 2024, advanced rapidly to the Opening Day roster and has maintained solid offensive and defensive performance. Infielder Mitch Voit, selected 38th last year, showed signs of progress in High-A ball, while 2023 pick Colin Houck continues to develop in the minors without significant offensive breakout.

Gross — now in his third draft cycle with the Mets after arriving from the Houston Astros’ front office — acknowledged the unpredictability of the draft but noted that deals can be made when players drop unexpectedly. He also cited successes beyond first-round selections, including in 2024 when second-round pick Jonathan Santucci and later-round picks like Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt contributed to the organization’s depth and trade assets.

The team’s draft losses were compounded this year by the signing of Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette, for whom the Mets surrendered both a second-round pick and their fifth-highest selection due to Toronto’s qualifying offer.

While the draft process remains challenging under current constraints, Gross expressed confidence in the systems the Mets have developed to identify and acquire talent across all rounds. “I think it’s been a really good transition here,” he said, reflecting on the club’s scouting and selection efforts that balance high-profile picks and strategic later selections despite the limitations on draft capital.