Why are you using 2021 Payroll information? In fact, why would Mets fans even talk about Yankee payroll at this point when the Mets are now at the highest? Here is the list of MLB Top Payrolls (above the MLB Average) for 2022. A better argument would be that the biggest waste of payroll money was the teams that did not even make it.
1 New York Mets - $282,709,066 (OUT in Wildcard round)
2 Los Angeles Dodgers - $275,629,360 (OUT in Division round)
3 New York Yankees - $264,934,200 (Division Round - TBD)
4 Philadelphia Phillies - $255,054,497 (Advanced to NLCS)
5 San Diego Padres - $237,684,494 (Advanced to NLCS)
6 Boston Red Sox - $223,176,946 (Did not make playoffs)
7 Chicago White Sox - $208,313,226 (Did not make playoffs)
8 Atlanta Braves - $200,067,952 (OUT in Division round)
9 Houston Astros - $192,931,925 (Advanced to ALCS)
10 Los Angeles Angels - $192,890,060 (Did not make playoffs)
11 Toronto Blue Jays - $188,895,270 (OUT in Wildcard round)
12 St. Louis Cardinals - $170,122,625 (OUT in Wildcard round)
13 San Francisco Giants - $168,161,466 (Did not make playoffs)
14 Chicago Cubs - $166,068,737 (Did not make playoffs)