Mets, along with other teams' dollar not going as far as they hoped

Mets, along with other teams' dollar not going as far as they hoped originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

As the first full month of the MLB season sets to conclude, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros are at the bottom of the league.

In fact, the Red Sox and the Phillies have both relieved their managers of their duties in the last few days.

More: Don Mattingly career timeline, from first manager stint with Dodgers to interim role with Phillies

For these four teams, the early-season struggles have become uncharted territory, as they are typically in the mix for a playoff berth. Yet, they oddly share something in common aside from underwhelming play.

That would be the massive payroll each team spent to build the rosters.

The Mets and Phillies, ironically, are tied for the worst record in the league while having the second-and fourth-largest payrolls.

Boston and Houston follow right behind them, each responsible for the sixth- and 11th-largest payrolls.

No question, all four ball clubs have the talent to turn things around; the Red Sox are on a three-game winning streak, but the woes of these teams send a message that pay-to-play is not always necessary.

It also indirectly proves the point that not every team can implement the same formula that the Los Angeles Dodgers have used to build a stacked roster.