The Mets enjoyed their finest season since 2000, getting to the World Series for the first time in 15 years, but it all came crashing down Sunday night.
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New York shot itself in the foot time and time again in the Fall Classic, with a blown save in Game 1 and then defensive miscues costing them in Games 4 and 5. The Royals won the World Series for the first time since 1985 by defeating the Mets, 7-2, Sunday night at Citi Field.
While that victory ushered in a championship celebration for Kansas City, it also rang in an offseason full of question marks for the Amazin's. Here's a look at what should be a very interesting offseason for the Mets.
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1) Yo No
The Mets regular season turnaround can be attributed to many factors -- Michael Conforto's call up, the returns of David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud and strong starting pitching -- but the Yoenis Cespedes trade was arguably the biggest facet of the clubs NL pennant win. Cespedes launched 17 homers and knocked in 44 runs for the Mets after the trade. Now, he's set to hit free agency and is looking for a six-year deal and he may be out of the frugal Mets' price range. Cespedes hit just .150 in the World Series and had a base running gaffe at the end of Game 4, but his departure would leave a huge hole in the middle of the lineup. Just one day after being eliminated from the World Series, sources have already said that New York is unlikely to re-sign the outfielder.
2) Murphy's Law
Nobody was on a bigger roller coaster ride this postseason than Daniel Murphy. The Mets second baseman set a postseason record by homering in six straight playoff games in the NLDS and NLCS, notching seven round-trippers in the playoffs and becoming a hero for Mets fans. Then, a six-day layoff cooled him off considerably and he became a goat, booting a ground ball to cost the club Game 4 and then once again making an error in Game 5. Murphy now hits free agency and it's expected he'll sign elsewhere. Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada and Dilson Herrera will likely split time as the middle infielders in 2016.
3) Trading Aces
With Murphy and Cespedes likely out the door, New York is either going to have to go through free agency to shore up the middle of its lineup or it will have to make some deals. Sandy Alderson proved at the deadline this season that he isn't gun-shy when it comes to making a trade. The Mets have plenty of young starting pitching and could look to deal one of their arms for a big bat. Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard are unlikely to be moved, but Matt Harvey could very well get shipped out of town. Sure, his Game 5 performance absolved him of his past sins, but Mets brass could be tired of the headaches. Zack Wheeler won't return until the middle of the summer, but New York already tried to deal him once in the failed Carlos Gomez deal, so he could once again be on the block.
4) Free Agent Frenzy
Aside from the big names in Murphy and Cespedes, several players may not be coming back to the Mets in 2016. Eric O'Flaherty, Bobby Parnell, Tyler Clippard, Jerry Blevins, Bartolo Colon, Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe are all set to hit free agency. Non-tender candidates include twice-suspended Jenrry Mejia, Eric Young Jr. and Buddy Carlyle. Addison Reed is arbitration eligible, but his impending pay bump may be too much for the Mets.
5) Free Agent Frenzy II
While the Mets may lose a chunk of their players to free agency, they can also use it as a means to gain some difference-makers back. New York could stand to shore up its bullpen by providing a bridge to its power arms and closer Jeurys Familia, while it could also spruce up its middle infield and add a power bat to platoon with Juan Lagares in the outfield. Such names available in free agency include pitchers Darren O'Day, Antonio Bastardo and Tony Sipp, outfielders Colby Rasmus and Justin Upton and middle infielders Ian Desmond and Ben Zobrist, who just celebrated his first World Series title with the Royals.
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