Ranking the Mets' most memorable offseasons

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By any measure, this has been a historic offseason for the Mets. In many ways, it stands peerless among winters in franchise history.

But there have been others. Here’s a look at how 2022-23 ranks in comparison to some of the most memorable offseasons the Mets have enjoyed:

Offseason: 2022-23

Key moves: OF Brandon Nimmo signed to an eight-year, $162 million contract; RHP Edwin Díaz signed to a five-year, $102 million contract; RHP Justin Verlander signed to a two-year, $86.6 million contract; RHP Kodai Senga signed to a five-year, $75 million contract; LHP José Quintana signed to a two-year, $26 million contract; RHP Adam Ottavino signed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract; RHP David Robertson signed to a one-year, $10 million contract; INF Danny Mendick signed to a one-year, $1 million contract; LHP Brooks Raley acquired via trade; RHPs Elieser Hernández and Jeff Brigham acquired via trade.

*A 12-year, $315 million agreement between the Mets and Correa is still pending as the two sides discuss the results of Correa’s physical, which he underwent on Dec. 22.

Analysis: Mets fans of any age have never seen anything like this. This has been the most bonkers -- bonkers! -- offseason in franchise history, and it’s not particularly close. For three days, folks mourned the departure of Jacob deGrom to Texas before Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler flipped into hyperdrive, blowing past Major League Baseball’s highest Competitive Balance Tax threshold and committing more money to payroll than any team in the history of the sport.

Offseason: 2004-05

Key moves: OF Carlos Beltrán signed to a seven-year, $119 million contract; RHP Pedro Martínez signed to a four-year, $53 million contract.

Analysis: It would be fair to lump the Mets’ moves from the 2005-06 offseason in here as well, as GM Omar Minaya remained aggressive over a multi-year period with deals for catcher Paul Lo Duca and closer Billy Wagner, plus a trade for first baseman Carlos Delgado. Forced to choose, the 2004-05 offseason was more impactful as the Mets closed flashy deals for Beltrán and Martínez; it was a coup for the Mets to sign Martínez immediately after he led the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years, though Beltrán wound up providing far more value on a long-term deal.

Offseason: 1998-99

Key moves: C Mike Piazza signed to a seven-year, $91 million contract; 3B Robin Ventura signed to a four-year, $32 million contract; OF Rickey Henderson signed to a two-year, $3.9 million contract; RHP Armando Benítez acquired via trade; OF Roger Cedeño acquired via trade.

Analysis: Three months after landing Piazza in a blockbuster trade, the Mets convinced him to stay on the most expensive contract in MLB history to date. They immediately dealt Piazza’s backup, Todd Hundley, in a deal that netted Cedeño and, eventually, Benítez. It says something about GM Steve Phillips’ offseason that he managed to acquire a future Hall of Famer in Henderson, yet it wasn’t close to his biggest deal of the winter. The Mets wound up winning the pennant less than two years later.

Offseason: 1984-85

Key moves: C Gary Carter acquired via trade; 3B Howard Johnson acquired via trade; OF Rusty Staub signed to a one-year, $300,000 contract.

Analysis: This may seem like a paltry haul compared to what Eppler & Co. accomplished this winter, but there’s no understating Carter’s impact on the organization. His leadership and excellence drove the Mets toward their 1986 championship, alongside many previously acquired pieces. Johnson didn’t become a full-time player until 1987, but that trade also wound up being one of GM Frank Cashen’s finest.