The formidable first-round challenge that awaits Mets at the MLB draft

The formidable first-round challenge that awaits Mets at the MLB draft

The task awaiting Kris Gross this weekend is not unfamiliar but is nonetheless daunting: Continue to excel in bringing in young talent while operating at a disadvantage. Gross, the Mets vice president of amateur and international scouting, will be leading a draft for a club that benefits in countless ways from Steve Cohen’s wallet, but the team’s payroll does backfire when trying to replenish the minor league system through the annual draft.