Baseball’s biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries

Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, slowed by injuries and scrambling to patch rosters with help for battered bullpens and other positions ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Opening the season with a top payroll of $326 million, the New York Mets have a 1 1/2-game NL East lead but are 17-20 since mid-June. Just $200,000 behind them in spending, according to Major League Baseball's figures, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are four games ahead in the NL West but are 5-13 since July 3.