Surprise playoff runs are no rarity in MLB, and someday there will be one more shocking than the 2024 Mets. What separates them from some of the others, however, is what they did to follow up their miracle finish. For comparison, look at the 2015 Mets, a team widely considered to be a fringe playoff contender entering the year who ultimately had a legitimate shot at a World Series ring. That group fell short, but the wide assumption in baseball was that they would be back and be led by their young pitching.
The winter of 2015 going into 2016, the Mets remained mostly quiet during the offseason. The team retained Yoenis Céspedes, which was their true major move. They also traded left-handed pitcher Jon Niese to the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Neil Walker, and signed Asdrúbal Cabrera to play shortstop.