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.