NEW YORK (AP) — Yes, the New York Mets have plenty of reasons to feel good after a string of unexpected success this season.

All those warm fuzzies were justified.

Now, the cold reality: Pete Alonso’s uncertain future is far from the only priority this winter.

New York will likely have a dozen free agents to replace — including Alonso — once contract options are decided, and the pitching staff is particularly thin at the moment.

“We might look extremely different,” star shortstop Francisco Lindor said.

The good news is that the Mets have a deep-pocketed owner, an established core that has playoff experience — and perhaps more than $100 million from their payroll as they look to take advantage of a surprise run to the National League Championship Series.

“We have everyone we need to make this work and finish the job,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said.

What was planned as a transitional season under rookie manager Carlos Mendoza and first-year president of baseball operations David Stearns, with an eye toward 2025, instead transformed from a 22-33 start into a exciting run in October that finally ended Sunday with two wins heading into the World Series with a Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York pulled off a series of stirring comebacks under pressure and hit several game-clinching home runs, creating fond memories that will last forever.

“We became a family. And now we’ve raised the bar,” Mendoza said in Los Angeles. “The expectations now, that’s what we should strive for every year, playing until October.”

To do this, owner Steve Cohen has holes to fill on the field.

They start, of course, with Alonso, the fan-favorite first baseman who was drafted by the Mets in 2016 and already ranks third on the franchise list with 226 career home runs in six major league seasons – one that has been shortened by the pandemic.

The four-time All-Star, who played in all 175 games for New York this year, came through in October with two three-run homers to help win playoff games and finished the postseason with four homers, 10 RBIs and a average of .999. OPS.

“I want more moments like this,” Alonso said. “I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish here. I feel like I put it out there every day.

Alonso, who turns 30 in December, is represented by agent Scott Boras, who often likes to test the market with high-profile clients.

It’s difficult to predict exactly what type of contract Alonso will get this offseason, but he would appear to be a good fit for several potential suitors, including the Astros, Cubs, Giants, Nationals, Red Sox and Yankees.

Cohen and the Mets could focus more on an even bigger free agent fish, outfielder Juan Soto. Or maybe New York will end up retaining Alonso the same way Nimmo did and move closer to Edwin Díaz after the 2022 playoff season.

Alternatively, the Mets could move young slugger Mark Vientos from third base to first and give Brett Baty another chance at third. Touted prospect Ronny Mauricio, who debuted in 2023 before missing this season with a knee injury, could also be in the mix.

New York needs a designated hitter as Jesse Winker and JD Martinez can become free agents. Rookie speedster Luisangel Acuña could fight for playing time at second base, where Jeff McNeil is coming off a rough season, or in center field, where Tyrone Taylor is arbitration eligible and Harrison Bader is once again reaching the free agency.

The bullpen must be largely rebuilt in front of Díaz, while the late-season rotation likely only returns David Peterson (10-3, 2.90 ERA) and Tylor Megill (4-5, 4.04) . Kodai Senga, the team’s projected No. 1 starter this season, hopes to return to All-Star form after throwing just 10 1/3 innings all year due to shoulder, calf and back injuries. triceps.

“This year has been frustrating,” Senga said through a translator. “This offseason I’ll have to look at a lot of things one by one, because after rehab things just didn’t go the same way. It’s a fact. To get my performance back, I’m going to have to go back through this offseason and re-examine things one by one.

Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA), who emerged as the staff’s ace during the second half of a stellar season, shed tears of pride in his close-knit Mets during an interview at clubhouse after the season-ending loss.

Still, the big southpaw seems likely to decline a $13.5 million player option for 2025. That would make Manaea, Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91) and Jose Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ) all free agents. The trio of veterans totaled 94 regular season starts and 10 more in the playoffs.

“If I were an agent, I would be very happy. They made a lot of money. As a teammate, it’s going to be difficult because they’ve won a lot of money and who knows where they’ll end up? » Lindor said, referring specifically to Manaea and Alonso. “They are my brothers. I wish them nothing but the best and hope they maximize whatever they want.

Jose Buttó (7-3, 2.55 ERA, three saves), converted from starter to valuable reliever this season, could return to the rotation.

Top prospect Christian Scott is expected to miss 2025 after Tommy John surgery, and Brandon Sproat is about the only highly touted arm in the upper levels of the farm system.

Stearns, however, has been particularly adept at putting together quality pitching staffs, not only this season with the Mets, but also since his days managing the low-budget Milwaukee Brewers.

Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Blake Snell are the top starters available on the free agent market.

“We already have a culture here. We set a precedent,” Lindor said. “If you come here to this organization, you have to work. You must work, you must respect everyone and you will be held accountable for every action. »

In the fourth season after Cohen purchased the Mets from the Wilpon family, New York led the major leagues with a $332 million payroll and is on pace to pay a $96 million luxury tax.

Since Cohen’s arrival, the model has been that of the Dodgers, perennial winners in a huge media market with a large payroll but also a farm system deep enough to overcome significant injuries.

The resilient Mets looked these injury-depleted Dodgers in the eye during the NLCS and were eliminated four times in six games, outscored 46-26 overall while setting a postseason record by issuing 42 walks in the series.

“That should be our goal: not only to be like them, but better than them,” Mendoza said. “We have work to do.”

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