Mets' Ownership is the Real Problem Regarding the Mickey Callaway Debate

The New York Mets' disappointing 20-25 start has resulted in major questions regarding the job security of manager Mickey Callaway. However, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen assured the media today that Callaway's job is safe. The problem is, though, that nothing will change as long as the current Mets ownership group remains the same.

Year after year, renowned cheapskates and Mets' majority owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon would rather watch a mediocre product than open up their wallets and make significant improvements.

Despite being blessed with talented (and cheap) young pitching over recent years, the Wilpons have not enabled their general managers to spend the necessary money to push the team over the top.

After trading for Robinson Cano's $24 million contract this offseason, the Mets entered a top-10 in MLB payroll for the first time since 2011. The fact that a major league franchise based in New York City spent eight seasons outside of the top-10 in payroll is an absolute travesty. The crosstown Yankees never exited the top-3 in payroll between 2011 and 2018.

The Wilpons are in the same category as James Dolan and Christopher Johnson when it comes to overall ineptitude. This past offseason, when the Wilpons hired agent Brodie Van Wagenen, they passed up on Chaim Bloom, a man who helped build a 90-72 roster for the not-so-wealthy Rays last season. If the Wilpons are going to be cheap, they should at least make their hires accordingly.

Until Fred and Jeff Wilpon relinquish ownership of the Mets, nothing will change. There is no reason that the Mets should completely ignore a free agent like Manny Machado, and instead sign Jed Lowrie.

There is no reason that they should have a 4.51 team ERA and allow Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel to remain unsigned. As long as ownership remains the same, it will not matter who the Mets' manager is.