This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK -- The “OMG” Mets of 2024 are in the past, and as much as the organization would love to recreate those vibes, the reality is that such a thing is impossible. Years pass and situations change. No matter how well the Mets fare in 2025, they’ll never quite be the “OMG” Mets again.

But they can be something even better if things break their way. Behind Juan Soto and a brand-new pitching staff, the Mets hope not just to claw their way into a playoff spot this time around, but to spend their summer as the team others are chasing. Whether they achieve it will depend on plenty of factors, including Soto’s performance and the health and effectiveness of said pitchers.

But before all that, there’s the rest of the offseason and Spring Training to get through. Now that the New Year has arrived, it’s time to start mapping out what all that will look like.

One free-agent target who would still be a perfect fit: Pete Alonso

It’s indeed a perfect match. It’s always been a perfect match. The Mets need a first baseman. Alonso is the best one available. The Mets also happen to be the only professional organization he’s ever known, playing their home games in a city he adores. The only question is whether the sides will be able to agree on money, considering Alonso reportedly rejected a lucrative extension offer back in 2023 and the Mets have already committed more than three-quarters of a billion dollars to improving their offense. Somewhere here, there’s a deal that works for both sides. There has to be, right?

One player poised to have a breakout season: Francisco Alvarez

Now that Mark Vientos has broken out, the Mets hope for the same from his younger teammate, Alvarez. Entering his age-23 season, Alvarez has struggled to find consistency at the plate, and he dropped from 25 homers as a rookie to just 11 last season. But Alvarez improved his batting average and on-base percentage in Year 2, as well as his throwing arm behind the plate. He now has 228 games of experience at the game’s highest level and is at an age when players tend to break out. Often lauded for his work ethic, Alvarez still has a chance to be one of the game’s top offensive catchers.

One prospect to watch in 2025: Brandon Sproat

Plenty of questions remain regarding Sproat’s ability to develop into a true frontline starter, yet he also has the best chance of anyone in New York’s system to make a significant midsummer impact. Just a step away from the big leagues, Sproat must first master the Triple-A level. But if he gets off to a nice start, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Sproat debut early in the season, as fellow prospect Christian Scott did last year. With a triple-digit fastball, Sproat (Mets' No. 1 prospect) boasts an even higher ceiling than Scott, as evidenced by his No. 40 overall prospect ranking per MLB Pipeline. At the highest level, he’ll need to be a pitcher not a thrower, which makes Sproat’s early-season development crucial to his chances.

One prediction for the new year: The Mets will win the NL East

The stage is set for them to win their first division title in a decade. The Braves are growing older and coming off an injury-laden season. Without Max Fried, Atlanta’s pitching staff doesn’t look as fearsome as it once did. While the Phillies remain a force, the Mets proved they could disrupt their Jersey Turnpike rivals even before signing Soto. Carlos Mendoza’s club may not enter the 2025 season as the on-paper NL East favorites, but they have as good a chance as any club to lock down the division. It’s a realistic goal for them heading into spring.