I don’t really care how the Mets or Padres operate. The real question is does spending aggressively in free agency end up in World Series championships? History tells us no which makes it an inefficient way of building a team.
Most of the World Series winners over the last decade had a home grown nucleus that was supplemented with free agents or trades
Astros- yes
Braves- yes
Dodgers- sort of
Nationals- yes
Red Sox - yes
Astros- yes
Cubs- yes
Royals- yes
Giants- yes
Red Sox- don’t remember