Complete Offseason Guide, Predictions for the New York Mets

There's plenty of blame to go around in Gotham after the Mets blew a 2-0 ninth-inning lead in Game 5 and ultimately got blown out by Kansas City, ending what had been a remarkable late-season charge to the postseason, and ultimately, the Fall Classic.

While losing the series in five games is disappointing, there's plenty for Mets fans to be excited about heading into next season.

Michael Conforto left little doubt that he's ready to take the next step in his development, while the heart of the team's remarkable rotation is not only set to return, but will be getting reinforcements in the form of a healthy Rafael Montero and Zack Wheeler.

That said, changes are certainly coming to Citi Field this winter. What follows is a look at how sweeping they might be as New York's long winter begins.

Payroll Breakdown

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Fred Wilpon and Sandy Alderson

This season marked the first time that New York's Opening Day payroll cracked the $100 million mark ($101.3 million) since 2011, and with just over $60 million committed to five players heading into 2016, the Mets will exceed that number once again in 2016.

But ESPN New York's Adam Rubin points out that 2016 marks the first year in which the Wilpon family, which owns controlling interest in the team, has to make a nearly $37 million payment as part of the settlement it reached for its role in the Bernie Madoff scandal.

It'd be foolish and naive to believe that's not going to have any impact on the team's budget in 2016 (and 2017, when its second payment is due). That's going to limit the kind of moves that general manager Sandy Alderson can make and could force the team to make some difficult decisions.

Rubin suggests that the team could open the 2016 season with a payroll between $115 million and $120 million, but it's hard to envision any substantial increase in spending with that Madoff payment looming.

Arbitration-Eligible Players

Aaron Doster/Associated Press

Matt Harvey

Players Headed for Arbitration (2015 salary)

• RHP Buddy Carlyle ($725,000)
• 1B Lucas Duda ($4.2 million)
• LHP Josh Edgin ($520,625)
• RHP Jeurys Familia ($523,925)
• RHP Matt Harvey ($614,125)
• RHP Jenry Mejia ($2.595 million)
• C Anthony Recker ($517,880)
• RHP Addison Reed ($4.875 million)
• IF Ruben Tejada ($1.88 million)
• RHP Carlos Torres ($582,125)
• OF Eric Young Jr. ($1 million) 

Lucas Duda turned down a three-year extension offer worth roughly $30 million before the season, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, and while it was the right move, Duda's production in 2015 was nearly identical to what he did in 2014.

It's hard to envision a scenario where the Mets increase that offer by much, especially with Duda's potential replacement, Dominic Smith, working his way through the minor leagues. The two sides agree on a one-year, $7 million deal.

There's no point in trying to extend Scott Boras client Matt Harvey, as the asking price would outrageous, even for a pitcher of Harvey's caliber. A one-year, $5 million deal is agreed upon, but it doesn't mean Harvey will still be with the team on Opening Day.

Jeurys Familia, who developed into one of the game's best closers in 2015, sees a sizable bump in his pay as well on a one-year, $3 million pact.

New York's Own Free Agents and Players with Options

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes

Potential Free Agents

• LHP Jerry Blevins
• OF Yoenis Cespedes
• RHP Tyler Clippard
• RHP Bartolo Colon
• IF/OF Kelly Johnson
• 2B/3B Daniel Murphy
• LHP Eric O'Flaherty
• RHP Bobby Parnell
• 3B Juan Uribe

The Mets would love to keep Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy. Multiple reports indicate that the team plans on extending a $15.8 million qualifying offer to Murphy (Cespedes is not eligible to be offered one as he was traded during the season), but there's little chance that he accepts.

Despite Murphy's mediocre World Series showing, he's poised to cash in on a lucrative multi-year deal in a free-agent market that is light on quality second basemen. Cespedes, who hit only two home runs for the Mets from Sept. 15 through the end of the World Series, is still poised to land a nine-figure deal.

They'll both be wearing different uniforms come 2016.

Juan Uribe is nothing more than a role player at this point of his career, but he's also a phenomenal teammate and clubhouse influence, as Matt Harvey told me in August. He's someone manager Terry Collins makes clear to the front office he wants back, and the veteran signs a two-year, $8 million deal with the second year being a team option.

Potential Free-Agent Targets

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Ben Zobrist

With Yoenis Cespedes or Daniel Murphy leaving and the free-agent market's biggest bats out of their price range, the Mets turn their attention to the second tier of available bats. Adding to the bullpen is also a priority.

Here are some of the names the Mets could be linked to once free agency begins:

• Howie Kendrick, 2B: Like Murphy, Kendrick is a consistent presence at the plate, but his defense is trending in the wrong direction. Entering his age-32 season, contract length—and not annual value—could be a sticking point with the Mets.

• Darren O'Day, RHP: Has quietly become one of the game's elite non-closing relievers, pitching to a 2.07 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 402 strikeouts over 400 innings since 2009. He's better against right-handed batters but has become adept at shutting down the opposition from either side of the plate.

• Colby Rasmus, OF: It's all about power with Rasmus, who has cracked the 20-home run plateau in three of his last four seasons and is capable of carrying an offense when he gets hot. Capable of playing all three outfield positions.

• Ben Zobrist, IF/OF: He'll be entering his age-35 season, but Zobrist remains highly productive and effective at multiple positions, including second base, where the Mets just happen to have an opening.

Potential Trade Targets

Tom Uhlman/Associated Press

Jay Bruce

New York's farm system isn't as deep as it was before the trade deadline, but the Mets still have a number of prospects and young talent on the big league roster that would interest other clubs. They also have, arguably, the game's most valuable potential trade chip in Matt Harvey, should they choose to play it.

Keep in mind there's no indication any of the players listed below are readily available...yet. But once the playoffs are over and the offseason kicks into high gear, they could be.

• Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds: The Mets and Reds discussed a Zack Wheeler-for-Bruce deal at the trade deadline and could revisit those talks this winter, though it's unlikely they'd offer multiple years of Wheeler for one year of Bruce at this point.

• Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: If the Mets are going to listen to offers for Matt Harvey, Puig is the kind of impact player they'll be looking for in return.

• Josh Reddick, OF, Oakland A's: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that Oakland has no plans to trade Reddick, but we heard similar things about Josh Donaldson, who was traded to Toronto. Solid defender with consistent power.

• Koji Uehara, RHP, Boston Red Sox: All-Star closer has been successful in multiple bullpen roles over the course of his career, would help bridge the gap to current closer Jeurys Familia.

Unless otherwise noted/linked, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs; all payroll and salary information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.

Want to talk Mets' offseason plans or anything baseball related? Hit me up on Twitter: @RickWeinerBR