Editing New York Mets (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of the New York Mets}}
[[File:William Shea.jpg|thumb|upright|[[William Shea]] was instrumental in returning National League baseball to New York City after five years of absence.]]

===1960s: Founding and first World Series===
After the 1957 season, the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] and [[New York Giants (baseball)|New York Giants]] [[relocation of professional sports teams|relocated]] from New York to California to become the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and [[San Francisco Giants]], leaving the largest city in the United States with no National League franchise and only one major league team, the [[New York Yankees]] of the [[American League]] (AL). With the threat of a New York team joining the new [[Continental League]], the National League [[1962 Major League Baseball expansion|expanded]] by adding the New York Mets following a proposal from [[William Shea]]. In a symbolic reference to New York's earlier National League teams, the new team took as its primary colors the blue of the Dodgers and the orange of the Giants, both of which are colors also featured on the [[Flags of New York City|flag of New York City]]. The nickname "Mets" was adopted: being a natural shorthand to the club's corporate name, the "'''New York Metropolitan Baseball Club''', Inc.",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metsheritage.com/item/a-note-on-the-name/|title=The New York Metropolitan Club|editor=Press|publisher=Mets Heritage|access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/davidoff-v-metropolitan-baseball-club-inc|title=Davidoff v. Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc.|editor=Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department|date=February 3, 1983|publisher=Casetext|access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc.|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=12486682|publisher=Bloomberg LP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324065834/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=12486682|archive-date=March 24, 2019|access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref> which hearkened back to the "[[New York Metropolitans|Metropolitans]]" (a New York team in the [[American Association (1882–1891)|American Association]] from 1880 to 1887),<ref name="timeline1" /> and its brevity was advantageous for newspaper headlines.<ref name="Nickname">{{cite news|title=New National League Team Here Approves Mets as Its Official Nickname|first=Louis|last=Effrat|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 9, 1961|page=48|author-link=Louis Effrat}}</ref>

[[File:Shea stadium.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Shea Stadium]] was the Mets' home field from 1964 to 2008.]]
[[File:Tom Seaver at Shea Stadium 1974 CROP.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tom Seaver]], three-time Cy Young Award winner, led the Mets to victory in the [[1969 World Series]]. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.]]
The [[1962 New York Mets season|1962 Mets]] posted a 40–120 record, the second most losses by a post-1900 MLB team behind the [[2024 Chicago White Sox season|2024 Chicago White Sox]].<ref name="WorstRecord">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/white-sox-mlb-record-losses-rcna172288|title=Chicago White Sox lose 121st game this season, most in baseball history|date=September 27, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024|first=Rohan|last=Nadkarni|work=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/27/sport/white-sox-most-losses-modern-mlb-spt-intl/index.html?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_msn|title=Chicago White Sox make unwanted history by recording the most losses in a single modern MLB season|first=David|last=Close|work=CNN|date=September 27, 2024|access-date=September 28, 2024}}</ref> During the [[1963 New York Mets season|1963 season]] the team featured a pitcher, Carlton Willey, who was having a great year, pitching four shut-outs, when he incurred an injury and finished with a 9–14 win–loss record. The '63 squad also had [[Duke Snider]], who hit his 2,000th hit and later his 400th home run and earned a berth to the 1963 All-Star Game. In 1964, the Mets hired [[Yogi Berra]] as a coach under Casey Stengel's coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/18/archives/berra-signs-twoyear-contract-as-coach-with-mets-at-35-000-a-season.html|title=Berra Signs Two-Year Contract as Coach With Mets at $35,000 a Season; Pinch-Hitter Role Is A Possibility; Berra Stresses Desire to Wear Uniform, Stays on Good Terms With Yanks|date=November 18, 1964|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref>

In 1966, the Mets famously bypassed future Hall of Famer [[Reggie Jackson]] in the [[1966 Major League Baseball draft|amateur draft]], instead selecting [[Steve Chilcott]], who never played in the majors. But the following year, they acquired future Hall of Famer [[Tom Seaver]] in a lottery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/classic/s/moment010403seaver.html|title=ESPN Classic – Mets win rights to sign Tom Seaver|last=Schwartz|first=Larry|date=April 3, 1966|website=ESPN.com|access-date=October 9, 2013}}</ref> Seaver helped the [[1969 New York Mets season|1969 "Miracle Mets"]] win the new [[National League East]] division title, then defeat the [[1969 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] to win the National League pennant and the heavily favored [[1969 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] to win the [[1969 World Series]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-1969-world-series-1.37558860|title=Fifty years ago, the Mets did the impossible by winning the World Series|last=Rieber|first=Anthony|date=October 17, 2019|website=Newsday.com|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>

===1970s: Second pennant and the "Midnight Massacre"===
In [[1973 New York Mets season|1973]], the Mets rallied from 5th place to win the division, despite a record of only 82–79.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1973.shtml|title=1973 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> They shocked the heavily favored [[1973 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]]' "[[The Big Red Machine|Big Red Machine]]" in the [[1973 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] and pushed the defending World Series champion [[1973 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] to a seventh game, but lost the series. Notably, 1973 was the only NL East title between 1970 and 1980 that was not won by either the [[Phillies–Pirates rivalry|Philadelphia Phillies or the Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|title=Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading|date=July 7, 2005|access-date=January 3, 2011|first=George|last=Von Benko|website=Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=MLB|quote=From 1974–80, the [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]] and [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pirates]] won all seven National League East titles (Phillies four, Pirates three).|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714103810/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050707&content_id=1119893&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pirates perform rare three-peat feat 4–2|date=September 28, 1992|newspaper=USA Today|page=5C|quote=The Pirates...won three (NL East titles) in a row from 1970–72.}}</ref> Star pitcher Tom Seaver was traded in [[1977 New York Mets season|1977]], on a day remembered as "the Midnight Massacre",<ref>{{cite news |last=Madden |first=Bill |title=The true story of The Midnight Masscare |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/true-story-midnight-massacre-article-1.224970 |access-date=September 28, 2014 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=June 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009142708/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/midnight-massacre-article-1.224970 |archive-date=October 9, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the Mets fell into last place for several years.

===1980s: Success, Wilpon takes over and second World Series championship===
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In January 1980, the Payson heirs sold the Mets franchise to the [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]] publishing company for $21.1 million, a record amount at that time. [[Nelson Doubleday, Jr.]] was named chairman of the board while minority shareholder [[Fred Wilpon]] took the role of club president. In February, Wilpon hired longtime [[Baltimore Orioles]] executive [[Frank Cashen]] as general manager who began the process of rebuilding the Mets much in the same way he developed the Orioles in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/frank-cashen-whose-team-building-savvy-led-ny-mets-to-world-series-in-1986-dies/2014/06/30/865d9d68-0094-11e4-b8ff-89afd3fad6bd_story.html|title=Frank Cashen, whose team-building savvy led N.Y. Mets to World Series in 1986 dies|last=Walker|first=Ben|date=June 30, 2014|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref>

The franchise turned around in the mid-1980s. During this time the Mets drafted slugger [[Darryl Strawberry]] (#1 in 1980)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazinavenue.com/2013/6/3/4391810/this-date-in-mets-history-june-3-darryl-strawberry-gregg-jefferies-drafted|title=This date in Mets History: June 3 – Mets draft Darryl, Gregg Jefferies, and others|website=Amazin'Avenue|last=Mahan|first=Brock|date=June 3, 2013|access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> and 1985 [[Cy Young Award]] winner [[Dwight Gooden]] (#5 in 1982).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-dwight-gooden-mlb-draft-20220716-owdiqwzsdvepbm6rgbnaaw4rb4-story.html|title=Dwight Gooden and the '82 Mets draft class that turned the team into champs|last=McCarron|first=Anthony|date=July 16, 2022|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> Former National League MVP and perennial [[Gold Glove]] winner [[Keith Hernandez]] was obtained by the Mets in 1983 from the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/16/sports/keith-hernandez-sent-to-mets-for-allen-ownbey.html|title=Keith Hernandez Sent to Mets For Allen, Ownbey|last=Dupont|first=Kevin|date=June 16, 1983|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sny.tv/articles/mets-traded-for-keith-hernandez-on-todays-date-in-1983|title=Mets traded for Keith Hernandez on today's date in 1983|website=[[SportsNet New York]]|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref> This began a rivalry between the two teams that lasted throughout the rest of the 1980s, during which the teams would swap [[NL East]] titles between 1985 and 1988, Mets players openly trolled the Cardinals, and Cardinals fans nicknamed the Mets "pond scum."<ref name="Ladson">{{cite web|last=Ladson|first=Bill|title=How the trade that made Keith Hernandez a Met came to be|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/keith-hernandez-mets-trade-anniversary|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Crisafulli">{{cite web|last=Crisafulli|first=Alex|title=The Cardinals – Mets rivalry was the best rivalry|url=https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2016/8/25/12637064/the-cardinals-mets-rivalry-keith-hernandez-jack-clark-1985-1987|publisher=[[SB Nation]] (Viva El Birdos)|date=August 25, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref>

After finishing their first three campaigns of the 1980s decade in either 5th or 6th (last) place, in 1984, new manager [[Davey Johnson]] was promoted from the helm of the AAA [[Norfolk Tides|Tidewater Tides]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/news/johnson-davey|title=Davey Johnson's Managerial Skills Lead Him To Cooperstown's Doorstep|last=Francis|first=Bill|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|publisher=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]|access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> He led the Mets to a second-place, 90–72 record, their first winning season since 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1984.shtml|title=1984 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref>

In [[1985 New York Mets season|1985]], they acquired Hall of Fame catcher [[Gary Carter]] from the [[Montreal Expos]] and won 98 games, but narrowly missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/11/sports/mets-get-expo-s-carter-for-brooks-and-3-others.html|title=Mets get Expo's Carter for Brooks and 3 Others|last=Durso|first=Joseph|date=December 11, 1984|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1985.shtml|title=1985 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> In [[1986 New York Mets season|1986]], they won the division with a record of 108–54, one of the best in National League history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1986.shtml|title=1986 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref> They then won a dramatic [[1986 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] in six games over the [[1986 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.amazinavenue.com/2020/10/14/21515174/mets-1986-nlcs-victory-over-the-astros-gooden-strawberry-hernandez-carter-dykstra-scott|title=Revisiting the Mets 1986 NLCS victory over the Astros|last=Wolff|first=Robert|date=October 14, 2020|website=amazinavenue.com|access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> The sixth game of the series lasted sixteen innings, the longest playoff game in history until 2005. The Mets came within one strike of losing the [[1986 World Series|World Series]] against the [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] before a series of hits and defensive miscues ultimately led to an error by Boston's [[Bill Buckner]] which gave the Mets a Game 6 victory. The Mets won their second World Series title in seven games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/36038/this-date-in-86-miracle-at-shea|title=This date in '86: The Miracle of Game 6|last=Simon|first=Mark|date=October 25, 2011|website=ESPN.com|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/28/sports/the-world-series-86-mets-win-it-city-loves-it.html|title=The World Series '86; Mets Win It, City Loves It|last=Alfano|first=Peter|date=October 28, 1986|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref>

In [[1987 New York Mets season|1987]] the Mets declined to re-sign World Series MVP [[Ray Knight]], who then signed with the Baltimore Orioles and also traded away the flexible [[Kevin Mitchell (baseball)|Kevin Mitchell]] to the Padres for long-ball threat [[Kevin McReynolds]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/12/sports/mets-trade-five-for-mcreynolds-in-eight-man-deal.html|title=Mets Trade Five For McReynolds In Eight-Man Deal|last=Durso|first=Joseph|date=December 12, 1986|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> Weeks later Mets' ace Dwight Gooden was admitted to a drug clinic after testing positive for cocaine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1987-04-02-8701210559-story.html|title=Mets' Gooden To Enter Drug Center|last=O'Connell|first=Jack|date=April 2, 1987|website=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref> Despite Gooden struggling in the first few months of the 1987 season, "Dr. K" rebounded, as did the team. It was during the tough times that the Mets made a great long-term deal, trading [[Ed Hearn (catcher)|Ed Hearn]] to the [[Kansas City Royals]] for pitcher [[David Cone]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/28/sports/mets-trade-hearn-anderson-to-royals.html|title=Mets Trade Hearn, Anderson To Royals|last=Berkow|first=Ira|date=March 28, 1987|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>

The rivalry with the Cardinals culminated in the 1987 season, when the Mets surged to challenge them for the NL East title but suffered two painful losses. The first came on Seat Cushion Night where [[Tom Herr]] hit a walk-off grand slam. A greater loss came on September 11 in a game against St. Louis, 3rd baseman [[Terry Pendleton]] hit a homer to give the Cardinals a lead, and eventually the NL East title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/terry-pendleton-hr-doomed-mets-dynasty-article-1.3482807|title=In 1987, Terry Pendleton's HR doomed the Mets dynasty that never was and Roger McDowell still can't talk about it|last=Red|first=Christian|date=September 9, 2017|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> One highlight of the year was Darryl Strawberry and [[Howard Johnson (baseball)|Howard Johnson]] becoming the first teammates' ever to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in the same season.

The Mets rebounded the following year to post a 100–60 overall record and win their division in [[1988 New York Mets season|1988]], but lost [[1988 NLCS|in the NLCS]] that year to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and declined into the 1990s.

===1990s: Struggles and return to the postseason===

====1991–1993: ''The Worst Team Money Could Buy''====

====1991–92====
During the 1991 season, the [[1991 New York Mets season|Mets]] were actually in contention for much of the season, closing to within 2.5 games of the front-running [[1991 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pirates]] at one point. In the latter half, however, the bottom completely fell out and Harrelson was fired with a week left to go in the season, replaced by third base coach [[Mike Cubbage]] for the final games. [[Gregg Jefferies]], once considered a promising young player, became a distraction as he released a controversial statement to be read on [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]] radio:<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/25/sports/heartfelt-plea-vintage-whine-jefferies-writes-fans.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm Heartfelt Plea? Vintage Whine? Jefferies Writes Fans]</ref><blockquote>When a pitcher is having trouble getting players out, when a hitter is having trouble hitting, or when a player makes an error, I try to support them in whatever way I can. I don't run to the media to belittle them or to draw more attention to their difficult times. I can only hope that one day those teammates who have found it convenient to criticize me will realize that we are all in this together. If only we can concentrate more on the games, rather than complaining and bickering and pointing fingers, we would all be better off.</blockquote> This was seen as the end for Jefferies in New York as he would be traded to the [[Kansas City Royals]] in the offseason. The season ended on a high note, however, as [[David Cone]] pitched a one-hit shutout against the [[1991 Philadelphia Phillies season|Phillies]] at [[Veterans Stadium]], in which he struck out 19 batters, tying the National League regulation game record (first set by former Met [[Tom Seaver]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-6-1991-mets-david-cone-strikes-out-19-in-season-finale/|title=October 6, 1991: Mets' David Cone strikes out 19 in season finale|last=Brown|first=Thomas|date=October 6, 1991|website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> With all of the personal problems swirling around the Mets after the 1986 championship, the Mets tried to rebuild using experienced superstars. They picked up [[Eddie Murray]] for over $3 million, [[Bobby Bonilla]] for over $6 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/11/27/Murray-signs-with-Mets/5464691218000/|title=Murray Signs with Mets|date=November 27, 1991|website=[[United Press International]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/03/sports/mets-sign-bonilla-for-29-million-making-him-richest-in-baseball.html|title=Mets Sign Bonilla for $29 Million, Making Him Richest in Baseball|last=Sexton|first=Joe|date=December 3, 1991|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> They also traded McReynolds and Jefferies for one-time World Series hero [[Bret Saberhagen]] and his $3 million contract, along with signing veteran free agent pitcher [[Frank Tanana]] for $1.5 million. The rebuilding was supported by the slogan, "Hardball Is Back".<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEEDF1230F935A15750C0A965958260 THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING – ADDENDA; A New Approach For the Mets], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 26, 1993</ref>

The experiment of building a team via free agency quickly flopped as Saberhagen and [[Vince Coleman (baseball)|Vince Coleman]] were soon injured and spent more time on the disabled list than on the field, and Bonilla exhibited unprofessional behavior towards members of the press, once threatening a reporter by saying, "I'll show you The Bronx". [https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/readers/signings.html]. At the beginning of the 1991 season, Coleman, Gooden and outfielder [[Daryl Boston]] were named in an alleged sexual abuse incident against a woman near the Mets' spring training facility; the charges were later dropped. Meanwhile, popular pitcher David Cone was dealt to the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] during the 1992 season for [[Ryan Thompson (outfielder)|Ryan Thompson]] and [[Jeff Kent]]. While the move was widely criticized by fans of both teams, the Jays went on to win the [[1992 World Series]].Their descent was chronicled by the book ''The Worst Team Money Could Buy: The Collapse Of The New York Mets'' ({{ISBN|0-8032-7822-5}}) by Mets beat writers [[Bob Klapisch]] and John Harper.

====1993====
{{Main|1993 New York Mets season}}

The lowest point of the experiment was the 1993 season when the Mets lost 103 games. In April of that year, Coleman accidentally hit Gooden's shoulder with a golf club while practicing his swing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/27/sports/baseball-gooden-gets-hit-before-he-can-pitch.html|title=Baseball; Gooden Gets Hit Before He Can Pitch|last=Sexton|first=Joe|date=April 27, 1993|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> In July, Saberhagen threw a firecracker under a table near reporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/28/sports/baseball-saberhagen-admits-to-joke.html|title=Baseball; Saberhagan Admits to Joke|date=July 28, 1993|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> Their young pitching prospect [[Anthony Young (baseball)|Anthony Young]] started the 1993 season at 0–13 and his overall streak of 27 straight losses over two years set a new record. After Young's record-setting loss, Coleman threw a firecracker out of the team bus window and injured three people resulting in felony charges that effectively ended his Mets career; the Mets placed him on paid administrative leave for the remainder of the season, and announced less than a month before the end of the season that he would never play for them again. Only a few days later, Saberhagen was in trouble again, this time for spraying [[bleach]] at three reporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-11-sp-22497-story.html|title=Saberhagan Apologizes for spraying bleach|date=August 11, 1993|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> The meltdown season resulted in the worst record for a Mets team since 1965. In addition, two of the three remaining links to the 1986 team, [[Howard Johnson (baseball)|Howard Johnson]] and [[Sid Fernandez]], departed after the season via free agency.

====1994 shortened season====
{{Main|1994 New York Mets season}}
The [[1994 Major League Baseball season|following season]] saw some promise for the troubled Mets, as first baseman [[Rico Brogna]] and second baseman [[Jeff Kent]] became fan favorites with their solid glove work and potential 20–25 home run power, Bonilla started to become the player the Mets expected, and a healthy Saberhagen, along with promising young starter [[Bobby Jones (right-handed pitcher)|Bobby Jones]] and John Franco, helped the Mets pitching staff along. In the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike-shortened]] 1994 season the Mets were in 3rd place behind first-place [[1994 Montreal Expos season|Montreal]] and [[1994 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta]] when the season ended on August 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2022/03/04/a-mets-favorites-stance-on-this-baseball-nightmare/|title=What Rico Brogna and 1994 Mets learned about MLB labor strife and it's sad relevance today|last=Puma|first=Mike|date=March 4, 2022|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

===1995–1997: Working Their Way Back===

====1995 season====
{{Main|1995 New York Mets season}}

When the strike finally ended in 1995, the Mets finally showed some promise again, finishing in 2nd place (but still 6 games under .500) behind eventual World Series champion Atlanta.

The 1995 season marked the emergence of pitchers [[Bill Pulsipher]], [[Jason Isringhausen]], and [[Paul Wilson (baseball)|Paul Wilson]]. The trio were dubbed [[Generation K (baseball)|Generation K]], a group of talented young hurlers who were destined to bring the Mets into greatness, much like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and [[Nolan Ryan]] did in the 1960s. However, all three players succumbed to injury, preventing them from reaching their full potential. Of the three of them, only Isringhausen would accomplish much of significance in the majors, but as a reliever, eventually reaching 300 career saves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2015/10/11/tale-of-mets-generation-k-shows-how-great-arms-go-wrong/|title=Tale of Mets' Generation K shows how great arms go wrong|last=Braziller|first=Zach|date=October 11, 2015|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

====1996 season====
{{Main|1996 New York Mets season}}

The Mets dismal 1996 season was highlighted by the play of [[switch hitter|switch hitting]] [[catcher]] [[Todd Hundley]] breaking the Major League Baseball single season record for home runs hit by catcher with 41.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/09/14/todd-hundley-sets-new-record-for-home-runs-by-a-catcher-in-1996/|title=Todd Hundley sets new record for home runs by a catcher in 1996|date=September 14, 2015|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> [[Center fielder]] [[Lance Johnson]] set single-season franchise records in [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (227), [[Triple (baseball)|triples]] (21), [[at bat]]s (682), [[Run (baseball)|runs scored]] (117). Johnson's 21 triples also led the National League, the highest amount by an NL player since 1930.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://risingapple.com/2018/10/01/mets-lance-johnson-1996/|title=Mets: Examining Lance Johnson's career year in 1996 a little closer|last=Boyle|first=Tim|date=October 1, 2018|website=Rising Apple|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

====1997====
{{Main|1997 New York Mets season}}

In the off season, the Mets acquired first baseman [[John Olerud]] from the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher [[Robert Person]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/25/sports/baseball-taking-shorter-deal-olerud-signs-with-mets.html|title=Baseball; Taking Shorter Deal, Olerud Signs With Mets|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=November 25, 1997|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

In 1997, the Mets finally bounced back with an 88–74 record, missing the playoffs by only four games, and the team improved by 17 wins from 1996. On June 16, the Mets beat the [[1997 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in the first ever regular-season game played between the crosstown rivals 6–0.<ref name=FirstCrossTownGame>{{cite news|title=The First Brag Belongs to Mlicki and the Mets|date=June 17, 1997|first=Murray|last=Chass|newspaper=The New York Times|page=B9|author-link=Murray Chass}}</ref> Mets starter [[Dave Mlicki]] pitched a complete game shutout to pick up the win.<ref name=FirstCrossTownGame/> In 1997, Hundley's great season was derailed by a devastating elbow injury and required [[Tommy John surgery]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/27/sports/baseball-mets-playing-it-safe-won-t-rely-on-hundley.html|title=Baseball; Mets, Play it Safe, Won't Rely on Hundley|date=September 27, 1997|last=Olney|first=Buster|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

====1998====
{{Main|1998 New York Mets season}}
The Mets season in 1998 began with an unforgettable opening day game at [[Shea Stadium]] on March 31 against their [[Mets–Phillies rivalry|division rival]] [[Philadelphia Phillies]], marking the first time that a regular season baseball game was played in New York in March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Take An Opener For the Ages|date=April 1, 1998|first=George|last=Vecsey|newspaper=The New York Times|page=C1|author-link=George Vecsey}}</ref> Both of them were involved in the longest scoreless opening day game in the National League and the longest one in the MLB since 1926 when the [[Washington Senators (1901–1960)|Washington Senators]] beat the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] 1–0 in 15 innings.<ref>{{cite news|title=For Openers, Zilch Phils Fall in 14th Without a Run|date=April 1, 1998|first=Jim|last=Salisbury|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|page=E1}}</ref><ref name=1998OpeningDay>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E5D71E3BF932A35757C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print|title=A Midsummer Classic in March as Mets Nip Phillies|date=April 1, 1998|first=Jason|last=Diamos|newspaper=The New York Times|page=C1}}</ref> The Mets won the game 1–0 in 14 innings when backup catcher [[Alberto Castillo (catcher)|Alberto Castillo]] delivered a full-count, two-out, pinch-hit single to right with the bases loaded off Philadelphia closer [[Ricky Bottalico]].<ref name=1998OpeningDay/>

During the season, the Mets acquired [[Mike Piazza]] in a blockbuster trade that immediately brought star power and credibility to the Mets that had been lacking in recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/who-won-mike-piazza-trade-mets-marlins|title=24 years ago, Mets got Piazza, But did they win the trade?|last=Harrigan|first=Thomas|date=May 21, 2023|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

After the Piazza trade, the Mets played well, but missed the 1998 postseason by only one game. With five games left in the [[1998 Major League Baseball season|season]], the Mets could not win a single game against both the [[1998 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] at home and the [[1998 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] on the road.Following the 1998 season the Mets re-signed Mike Piazza to a seven-year, $91 million contract, the Mets traded Todd Hundley to the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/sports/baseball-mets-agree-make-piazza-baseball-s-richest-player-leiter-says-he-close.html|title=Baseball; The Mets Agree to Make Piazza Baseball's Richest Player; Leiter Says He's Close to a $32 Million Deal|last=Diamos|first=Jason|date=October 25, 1998|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> Trades netted the Mets Roger Cedeño, Armando Benítez, and the Mets signed free agents [[Robin Ventura]], [[Rickey Henderson]], and [[Bobby Bonilla]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mets-welcome-rickey-henderson/|title=Mets Welcome Rickey Henderson|date=December 21, 1998|website=[[CBS News]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/02/sports/baseball-mets-get-benitez-and-near-ventura-deal.html|title=Baseball; Mets Get Benítez and Near Ventura Deal|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=December 2, 1998|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/4/2680955/who-let-bobby-bonilla-return-to-the-mets-in-1998|title=Who let Bobby Bonilla Return to the Mets in 1998?|last=Artus|first=Matthew|date=January 4, 2012|website=Amazin Avenue|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

====1999====
[[File:Mike Piazza (1999) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Hall of Fame catcher [[Mike Piazza]] in 1999]]
{{Main|1999 New York Mets season}}
The Mets started the 1999 season well, going 17–9, but after an eight-game losing streak, including the last two to the [[1999 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]], the Mets fired their entire coaching staff except for manager [[Bobby Valentine]].The Mets, in front of a national audience on [[ESPN Sunday Night Baseball|''Sunday Night Baseball'']], beat the New York Yankees 7–2 in the turning point of the 1999 season. Both Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura had MVP-type seasons and [[Benny Agbayani]] emerged as an important role player. It was a breakout year for Mets second baseman [[Edgardo Alfonzo]] and [[Roger Cedeño]], who broke the single season steals record for the Mets.

After the regular season ended, the Mets played [[1999 National League Wild-Card tie-breaker game|a one-game playoff]] against the [[1999 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]], [[Al Leiter]] pitched the best game of his Met career as he hurled a two-hit complete-game shutout to advance the Mets to the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://risingapple.com/2019/12/23/mets-heroes-al-leiter-1999/|title=Mets Heroes: Al Leiter pitches a shutout against the Reds in rare Game 163|last=Boyle|first=Tim|date=December 23, 2019|website=Rising Apple|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> In the [[1999 National League Division Series|NLDS]], the Mets defeated the [[1999 Arizona Diamondbacks season|Arizona Diamondbacks]] 3 games to 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1999_NLDS2.shtml|title=1999 National League Division Series|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> The series-clinching victory included a walk-off home run by backup catcher [[Todd Pratt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-9-1999-journeyman-todd-pratt-slams-mets-into-nlcs/|title=October 9, 1999: Journeyman Todd Pratt slams Mets into NLCS|last=Vivianco|first=Cosme|date=October 17, 2019|website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> The Mets would lose however in the [[1999 National League Championship Series]] to the [[1999 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]], in six exciting games which included the famous [[Grand Slam Single]] by Robin Ventura to win game 5 for the Mets. The Mets were at one point down 3–0 in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1999_NLCS.shtml|title=1999 National League Championship Series|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

The Mets struggled for much of the 1990s, finishing with a losing record for six consecutive seasons between 1991 and 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1991.shtml|title=1991 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1992.shtml|title=1992 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1993.shtml|title=1993 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1994.shtml|title=1994 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1995.shtml|title=1995 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1996.shtml|title=1996 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref>

===2000s: The Subway World Series and new ballpark===
In [[2000 New York Mets season|2000]], the Mets finished the season with a 94–68 record andclinched a wild card spot in the playoffs. In the [[2000 National League Division Series|NLDS]], the Mets defeated the [[San Francisco Giants]] 3–1 in the series and the [[St Louis Cardinals]] in the [[2000 National League Championship Series|NLCS]]. After winning the National League pennant, the Mets earned a trip to the [[2000 World Series]] against their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, for a "[[Subway Series]]". The Mets were defeated by the Yankees in five games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/07/02/what-would-have-happened-if-mets-won-2000-world-series/|title=Mets winning Subway World Series 'would have changed a lot of lives'|last=O'Connor|first=Ian|date=July 2, 2021|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref> The most memorable moment of the 2000 World Series occurred during the first inning of Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Piazza fouled off a pitch which shattered his bat, sending a piece of the barrel toward the pitcher's mound. Pitcher [[Roger Clemens]] seized the piece and hurled it in the direction of Piazza as the catcher trotted to first base. Benches briefly cleared before the game was resumed with no ejections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/10/21/roger-clemens-bizarre-mike-piazza-bat-throw-is-still-shocking/|title=Roger Clemens' bizarre Mike Piazza bat throw is still shocking|last=Davidoff|first=Ken|date=October 21, 2020|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref>

During the [[2001 New York Mets season|2001 season]], the Mets finished with a record of 82–80 finishing third in the division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2001.shtml|title=2001 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> After the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]] [[Shea Stadium]] was used as a relief center and then saw the first sporting event in New York City since the attacks, in a game vs. the [[2001 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] on September 21. In the bottom of the 8th inning the Mets were trailing 2–1 when Mike Piazza came to bat with a runner on first. Piazza dramatically sent Shea into a frenzy by crushing a home run to give the Mets a 3–2 lead and the eventual win. The game is considered to be one of the greatest moments in the history of the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32164769/20-years-later-enduring-legacy-mike-piazza-home-run|title=20 years later, the enduring legacy of the Mike Piazza home run|last=Hockensmith|first=Ryan|date=September 8, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>

In 2002, despite the off-season signings of [[Tom Glavine]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/06/sports/baseball-veteran-glavine-picks-veteran-|title=Baseball; Veteran Glavine Picks Veteran Mets|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=December 6, 2002|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> [[Mo Vaughn]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/28/sports/baseball-mets-land-vaughn-with-a-twist-and-a-tug.html|title=Mets Land Vaughn With a Twist and a Tug|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=December 28, 2001|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> and [[Roberto Alomar]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/11/sports/mets-acquire-alomar-from-clevel|title=Mets Acquire Alomar From Cleveland|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=December 11, 2001|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> the Mets finished the [[2002 New York Mets season|2002 season]] with a 75–86 overall record and last in the NL East.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2002.shtml|title=2002 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> During that same season the Mets dealt with off field distractions when co-owners Wilpon and Doubleday were in a legal battle which was later settled with Wilpon becoming the sole owner on August 23 that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/12/05/the-wilpons-worst-and-best-moments-as-mets-owners/|title=The Wilpon's worst and best moments as Mets owners|last=Braziller|first=December 5, 2019|website=[[New York Post]]|date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the 2004 season, the Mets hired a new general manager, [[Omar Minaya]], who immediately turned the franchise around by signing pitcher [[Pedro Martínez]] and hiring a new manager, [[Willie Randolph]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1947207|title=Physical passed four-year deal finalized|date=December 15, 2004|website=ESPN.com|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=November 7, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/how-the-mets-signed-pedro-martinez|title=How the Mets lured Pedro to Queens|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=December 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/sports/baseball/randolph-is-named-to-lead-the-mets.html|title=Randolph is Named to lead the Mets|last=Jenkins|first=Lee|date=November 4, 2004|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> The Mets finished 2005 four games over .500, and the franchise's resurgence was complete by 2006 as they won 97 games and the NL East title behind new acquisitions [[Carlos Beltrán]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-10-sp-beltran10-story.html|title=Beltran is New King of Queens|last=Brown|first=Tim|date=January 10, 2005|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> and [[Carlos Delgado]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/24/sports/baseball/in-swing-of-fortune-mets-finally-get-delgado.html|title=In Swing of Fortune, Mets Finally Get Delgado|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=November 24, 2005|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> as well as young superstars [[José Reyes (shortstop)|José Reyes]] and [[David Wright]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://risingapple.com/posts/ny-mets-david-wright-jose-reyes-duo|title=David Wright and José Reyes: A duo cut too short|last=Mincolelli|first=Mark|date=March 31, 2023|website=Rising Apple|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> The Mets eventually succumbed to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in Game 7 of the [[2006 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/10/17/oral-history-of-2006-mets-nlcs-game-7-endy-chavez-game/|title=A condensed oral history of the 2006 NLCS and a Mets team that came so damn close|last=Davidoff|first=Kevin|date=October 17, 2021|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=October 17, 2021}}</ref>

In 2007, the Mets entered the final 17 games in the season with a seven-game lead in the NL East. But the team went on an ill-timed losing streak, losing 11 of the next 15 games, resulting in the Philadelphia Phillies winning the division by one game.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/sports/baseball/01mets.html|title=Mets Complete Stunning Collapse|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=October 1, 2007|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 1, 2007}}</ref>

The Mets held a more modest 3.5-game lead after 145 games of the [[2008 New York Mets season|2008 season]], their final season at Shea Stadium. On June 16, Omar Minaya fired Willie Randolph, [[Rick Peterson]], and [[Tom Nieto]]. [[Jerry Manuel]] was named interim manager.<ref name=randolph-fired>{{cite news | last = Shpigel | first = Ben | title = Mets Fire Manager Willie Randolph | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = June 17, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/baseball/17cnd-mets.html | access-date = June 17, 2008}}</ref> While their 7–10 mark down the stretch was better than the previous season's 5–12, it still allowed the Phillies to pass them once again for the division crown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/hard-mets-collapse-article-1.319998|title=It's hard to believe Mets collapse again|last=Lupica|first=Mike|date=September 28, 2008|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=September 28, 2008}}</ref>

In 2009, the Mets moved into the newly constructed [[Citi Field]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/sports/baseball/14mets.html|title=On Crisp Night, Mets Open Their Snappy New Ballpark|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=April 13, 2009|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 13, 2009}}</ref> On April 17, [[Gary Sheffield]], who just days earlier was signed by the Mets as a free agent, hit his [[500 home run club|500th home run]] against the [[2009 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]]. Sheffield became the first pinch hitter to reach this milestone, as well as the first to do it in a Mets uniform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4078752|title=Sheffield reaches rare milestone|date=April 17, 2009|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risingapple.com/2019/04/17/mets-gary-sheffield-500-home-run/|title=Mets Once in a lifetime moment: Gary Sheffield's 500th home run|last=Lennon|first=Edward|date=April 17, 2019|website=Rising Apple|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref> The [[2009 New York Mets season|season]] was mainly a tough one for the Mets which was marred by numerous injuries suffered by its players, with 20 of them having been on the [[disabled list]] at one point or another during the season and losing star (and also replacement) players like [[J. J. Putz]], [[John Maine]], [[Óliver Pérez]], José Reyes, Carlos Beltrán, David Wright, Carlos Delgado, [[Johan Santana]], and [[Gary Sheffield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/mets/2009/10/nelson_figueroa_tosses_complet.html|title=Nelson Figueroa tosses complete-game shutout as Mets finish season with 4-0 win over Astros|last=Costa|first=Brian|date=October 4, 2009|website=NJ.com|access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

As a result, the Mets finished in fourth place, with a record of 70–92 and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2009.shtml|title=2009 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref> Mets players spent more than 1,480 days in the disabled list in 2009, more than any other team in the majors. Second-half turnarounds of [[Jeff Francoeur]] and [[Daniel Murphy (baseball)|Daniel Murphy]] helped the Mets finish the season with the best batting average in the National League, tied with the [[2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite news|title=After Quiet Finish, Mets Are Planning For Busy Off-Season|date=October 5, 2009|first=Ben|last=Shpigel|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/10/who-killed-the-2009-new-york-mets|title=Who Killed The 2009 New York Mets (Besides Madoff, Barabooey, And The Late D.J. AM)?|last=Windolf|first=Jim|date=October 3, 2009|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref>

===2010s: Wilpon sells the team and Fifth trip to the World Series===
In 2012, Mets owners [[Fred Wilpon]] and [[Saul Katz]] settled a lawsuit brought against them on behalf of the victims of [[Bernard Madoff]]'s [[Ponzi scheme]] for $162&nbsp;million. As a result of this agreement the liquidator, [[Irving Picard]], agreed to drop the charges that Wilpon and Katz blindly went along with the scheme for their personal benefit. Picard had originally sought to recover $1&nbsp;billion from the Wilpon family and Katz, but settled for $162&nbsp;million along with the admission that neither the Wilpons nor Katz had any knowledge of the Ponzi scheme. In 2011–2012, Mets ownership sold twelve minority 4% shares (totaling 48%) of the franchise at $20&nbsp;million apiece to provide a cash infusion of $240&nbsp;million for the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7708498/new-york-mets-settle-madoff-trustee-162-million|title=New York Mets settle with Madoff trustee for $162 million – ESPN New York|work=ESPN.com|date=March 19, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2014}}</ref>

Though the first half of the 2010s saw limited success for the Mets, who failed to finish with a winning record between 2009 and 2014, this period coincided with a number of milestones for the franchise, including the first [[no-hitter]] in franchise history by [[Johan Santana]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/01/johan-santanas-no-hitter-comes-with-a-haunting-mets-legacy/|title=Johan Santana's no-hitter comes with a haunting Mets Legacy|last=Kussoy|first=Howie|date=June 1, 2020|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref> [[R.A. Dickey]] won the NL Cy Young Award pitching for the Mets that same season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=R.A. Dickey wins NL Cy Young |date=November 14, 2012 |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/8633034/ra-dickey-new-york-mets-wins-national-league-cy-young-becoming-first-knuckleballer-win-award |access-date=November 15, 2012 |work=ESPN}}</ref>

[[File:Jacob deGrom.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jacob deGrom]], the 2014 [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] and 2018 and 2019 [[Cy Young Award]] Winner]]
On September 26, 2015, the Mets clinched the NL East division title, and thus their first postseason berth since 2006, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 10–2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/amazin-mets-clinch-nl-east-title-10-2-win-reds-article-1.2375810?outputType=amp|title=Mets clinch NL East title as Lucas Duda hits grand slam, David Wright adds homer in 10–2 win over Reds|last=Ackert|first=Kristie|date=September 27, 2015|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref> They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the [[2015 NLDS|NLDS]], three games to two,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/16/sports/baseball/new-york-mets-beat-los-angeles-dodgers-nlds.html|title=Next Stop for Mets: The N.L.C.S.|last=Rohan|first=Tim|date=October 15, 2015|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref> and swept the Chicago Cubs in the [[2015 NLCS|NLCS]] for their first pennant in 15 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/10/21/mets-sweep-cubs-advance-world-series-nlcs/74367898/|title=Mets sweep Cubs, advance to World Series|last=Ortiz|first=Jorge|date=October 22, 2015|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=October 22, 2015}}</ref> In the [[2015 World Series]], they were defeated by the [[Kansas City Royals]] in five games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2585129-for-vanquished-mets-missed-opportunities-will-forever-define-2015-world-series|title=For Vanquished Mets, Missed Opportunities Will Forever Define 2015 World Series|last=Rymer|first=Zachary|date=November 2, 2015|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=November 2, 2015}}</ref>

The Mets returned to the postseason in [[2016 Major League Baseball season#Postseason|2016]], marking only the second time in franchise history that the team qualified for the postseason in consecutive years. With an 87–75 record, the team qualified for the [[2016 National League Wild Card Game|wild-card game]], only to lose 3–0 to the [[San Francisco Giants]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2016.shtml|title=2016 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> The Mets failed to make the playoffs for the rest of the decade, finishing no higher than third place in 2019 when they finished with a winning record of 86–76 (the highest of any team not to qualify for the postseason).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2019-standings.shtml|title=2019 Major League Baseball Standings and Expanded Standings|website=baseball-reference.com|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>

The end of the decade also coincided with [[David Wright]]'s retirement,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/13/sports/baseball/mets-david-wright-retires.html|title=Mets David Wright to Return, and then Retire|last=Wagner|first=James|date=September 13, 2018|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref> [[Jacob deGrom]] being awarded two consecutive Cy Young Awards (including for the 2018 season when the pitcher finished the year with a 1.70 ERA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/13/sports/baseball/jacob-degrom-cy-young.html|title=Jacob deGrom Wins Second Straight Cy Young Award|website=NY Times|date=November 13, 2019|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> and first-baseman [[Pete Alonso]] winning the 2019 [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] and finishing the season with a major-league-leading 53 home runs, the most by any rookie in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/11/sports/baseball/pete-alonso-rookie-of-the-year.html|title=Pete Alonso Becomes the 6th Met to Be Named Rookie of the Year|website=NY Times|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> On October 3, 2019, the Mets fired manager [[Mickey Callaway]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27759370/mets-dismiss-mickey-callaway-86-win-campaign|title=Mets dismiss Mickey Callaway after 86–win campaign|date=October 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref> On November 1, 2019, the Mets named [[Carlos Beltrán]] as the new manager replacing Callaway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/new-york-mets-name-carlos-beltran-new-manager/|title=New York Mets name Carlos Beltran new manager|last=Perry|first=Dayn|date=November 1, 2019|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>

===2020s: Steve Cohen Era===
[[File:Francisco Lindor (52033114874) (cropped).jpg|thumb|180px|The Mets acquired 4x All-Star shortstop [[Francisco Lindor]] in 2021.]]
On January 16, 2020, Beltrán stepped down as manager before the start of the [[2020 MLB season]] due to his involvement in the [[Houston Astros sign stealing scandal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28496773/mets-agree-part-ways-manager-carlos-beltran|title=Mets agree to part ways with manager Carlos Beltran|last=Passan|first=Jeff|date=January 16, 2020|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> Two days later, the Mets hired [[Luis Rojas (baseball)|Luis Rojas]] as manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-hire-luis-rojas-as-new-manager|title=Mets hire 'respected' Rojas as new manager|date=January 23, 2020|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref> The team finished the shortened [[2020 New York Mets season|2020 season]] with a 26–34 record and a last-place finish in the NL East.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2020.shtml|title=2020 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref>

On October 30, 2020, [[Steve Cohen (businessman)|Steve Cohen]] became the majority owner of the Mets, owning 95% of the team, making him the current richest owner in baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thosar|first=Deesha|title=Steve Cohen officially approved as owner of Mets; Mayor de Blasio signs off on deal|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-steve-cohen-mets-20201030-t5hj3ebvp5deff7mipn3p5n7f4-story.html|access-date=November 2, 2020|website=New York Daily News|date=October 30, 2020 }}</ref> He bought the team from the Wilpon family for $2.4 billion, with the Wilpons keeping the remaining 5%. On January 7, 2021, the Mets acquired pitcher [[Carlos Carrasco (baseball)|Carlos Carrasco]] and All-Star shortstop [[Francisco Lindor]] in a trade with the [[Cleveland Guardians|Cleveland Indians]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30668781/sources-new-york-mets-finalizing-deal-acquire-ss-francisco-lindor-cleveland-indians|title=New York Mets acquire Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland Guardians in blockbuster trade|date=January 7, 2021|website=ESPN.com|access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref> On March 31, Lindor and the Mets agreed to a 10-year extension worth $341 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/francisco-lindor-mets-deal|title=Lindor in Queens for next 11 yrs 'Here we go'|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=April 1, 2021|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=April 1, 2021}}</ref> At the trade deadline, the Mets acquired All-Star infielder & World Series champion [[Javier Báez]] in trade with the [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/30/sports/baseball/javier-baez-mets.html|title=Needing Some Extra Magic, the Mets Trade For El Mago|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=July 30, 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 30, 2021}}</ref> The Mets finished third place in the NL East with an overall record of 77–85.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/mets/news/what-the-mets-must-do-to-turn-things-around-in-offseason|title=What The Mets Must Do To Turn Things Around In Offseason|last=Ragazzo|first=Pat|date=October 4, 2021|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2021.shtml|title=2021 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref>

On November 19, the Mets hired [[Billy Eppler]] as their new general manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/sports/baseball/billy-eppler-mets-gm.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/sports/baseball/billy-eppler-mets-gm.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=A New General Manager Is a Relief for Mets Leadership|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=November 19, 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 19, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During the offseason, the Mets signed free agents [[Nick Plummer]], [[Starling Marte]], [[Eduardo Escobar]], and [[Mark Canha]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/starling-marte-mets-deal|title=Marte, Canha, Escobar deals made official|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref> On December 1, the Mets signed three-time [[Cy Young Award]] winner [[Max Scherzer]] with a three-year, $130 million deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/max-scherzer-mets-agree-to-record-contract-as-right-hander-signs-three-year-130-million-deal/|title=Max Scherzer, Mets agree to record contract as right-hander signs three-year, $130 million deal|last=Snyder|first=Matt|date=November 29, 2021|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/max-scherzer-mets-deal|title=Mets ink 3-time Cy winner Max Scherzer to 3-year deal|date=December 1, 2021|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=December 1, 2021}}</ref> On December 18, the Mets announced that they hired [[Buck Showalter]] as their new manager via owner Steve Cohen's Twitter account.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32895867/new-york-mets-hire-buck-showalter-new-manager|title=New York Mets hire Buck Showalter as new manager|date=December 18, 2021|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=December 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/12/buck-showalter-is-the-right-guy-to-ignite-a-yankees-mets-war-in-the-big-apple-klapisch.html|title=Buck Showalter is the right guy to ignite a Yankees–Mets war in the Big Apple|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|date=December 19, 2021|website=NJ.com|access-date=December 19, 2021}}</ref>

On April 29, 2022, [[Tylor Megill]], [[Drew Smith (baseball)|Drew Smith]], [[Joely Rodríguez]], [[Seth Lugo]] and [[Edwin Díaz]] pitched the second no-hitter in franchise history in a 3–0 win against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/phillies-vs-mets/2022/04/29/662592 | title=Phillies 0, Mets 3 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/29/sports/baseball/tylor-megill-mets-no-hitter.html|title=The Mets Have An Imperfect Night to Remember|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=April 29, 2022|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref> On September 18, during a game against the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Jacob deGrom]] set a new MLB record by allowing three or less earned runs in 40 consecutive games, breaking a record that was held by [[Jim Scott (pitcher)|Jim Scott]] for over 100 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/jacob-degrom-breaks-108-year-old-mlb-record-mets-win|title=Jacob deGrom breaks 108-year-old MLB record in Mets win|last=Morik|first=Ryan|date=September 18, 2022|website=[[Fox News]]|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref>

On the following day, the Mets clinched their first postseason berth since 2016, and their 10th in franchise history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mets punch ticket to October with grander goals ahead |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-clinch-2022-playoff-berth |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> On September 25, [[Pete Alonso]] broke the Mets single-season [[Run batted in|RBI]] record which was previously set by former franchise stars [[Mike Piazza]] and [[David Wright]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pete-alonso-breaks-mets-single-season-rbi-record |title=Alonso drives in 5 to become Mets' RBI King |last=Chen |first=Sonja |date=September 25, 2022 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]] |access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref> Also during the season, the Mets called up three of their top prospects [[Brett Baty]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/new-york-mets-calling-up-no-2-prospect-brett-baty |title=New York Mets Call Up Hot-Hitting Prospect Brett Baty |date=August 16, 2022 |website=[[Fox Sports]] |access-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref> [[Mark Vientos]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2022/09/10/mets-calling-up-mark-vientos-to-provide-needed-boost-to-lineup/|title=Mets calling up Mark Vientos as Starling Marte lands on IL|last=Puma|first=Mike|date=September 10, 2022|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref> and [[Francisco Álvarez (baseball)|Francisco Álvarez]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/30/sports/baseball/francisco-alvarez-mets-braves.html |title='Im Going to Play My Game': The Mets Call Up Francisco Álvarez |last=Wagner |first=James |date=September 30, 2022 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 2, 2022}}</ref> The Mets won 101 games and tied with the [[2022 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] for the best record in the NL East; however, the Mets were designated as a Wild Card team due to them getting swept by the Braves.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Braves on cusp of NL East title after sweep |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-sweep-mets-magic-number-one-to-clinch-nl-east |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> The Mets lost the [[2022 National League Wild Card Series]] to the [[2022 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]]. They also became the first team in MLB history to produce only one hit in a winner-take-all playoff game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2022.shtml|title=2022 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/sports/baseball/mets-padres-wild-card-game-3.html|title=Mets Run Out of Magic as Season Ends Against Padres|last=Wagner|first=James|date=October 9, 2022|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref>

In the offseason, the Mets lost deGrom to the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] via free agency,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2022/12/02/jacob-degrom-signs-with-rangers-to-end-mets-tenure/ |title=Jacob deGrom signs with Rangers on five-year deal to end Mets tenure |first=Dan |last=Martin |work=New York Post |date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=December 2, 2022}}</ref> but quickly replaced him by signing Japanese ace [[Kodai Senga]] to a five-year, $75 million contract,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/kodai-senga-mets-deal |title=Mets finalize 5-year deal with RHP Senga |last=DiComo |first=Anthony |date=December 17, 2022 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]] |access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> and three-time Cy Young Award winner [[Justin Verlander]] to a two-year, $86.7 million contract.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiComo |first1=Anthony |title=Mets make 2-year pact with Verlander official |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-verlander-mets-deal |website=mlb.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref> Despite this the Mets were unable to gain momentum from the previous season and missed the playoffs in the process. The team ended the [[2023 New York Mets season|2023 season]] with a 75–87 record and finished fourth-place in the NL East.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2023.shtml|title=2023 New York Mets Season summary|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref>

On September 12, 2023, the Mets hired [[David Stearns]] as their new president of baseball operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=Sources: Mets hiring Stearns as baseball ops prez |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38386497/sources-mets-hiring-david-stearns-president-baseball-operations |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> On October 1, after the final game of the season, the Mets fired manager Buck Showalter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38539509/buck-showalter-return-mets-manager-2024|title=Mets fire Buck Showalter after disappointing season|date=October 1, 2023|website=[[ESPN.com]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> They would then introduce their new president Stearns on the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stearns becomes Mets' first president of baseball operations |url=https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/david-stearns-mets-first-president-of-baseball-operations |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> On October 5, Billy Eppler resigned as general manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38577028/billy-eppler-quits-general-manager-new-york-mets|title=Sources: Eppler resigned as Mets GM amid MLB investigation|last=Passan|first=Jeff|date=October 5, 2023|website=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> On November 13, the Mets named former [[New York Yankees]] bench coach [[Carlos Mendoza (baseball manager)|Carlos Mendoza]] as their new manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/carlos-mendoza-mets-manager|title=Mets Hire Mendoza from Yankees as next manager|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=November 13, 2023|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref> During the offseason, the Mets signed free agents [[Luis Severino]], [[Joey Wendle]], [[Jorge Lopez (baseball)|Jorge López]], [[Harrison Bader]] and [[Sean Manaea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-severino-mets-deal|title=Mets ink deal with former Yanks RHP Severino|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=December 1, 2023|website=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mets-sign-all-star-rhp-jorge-lopez|title=Mets sign All-Star RHP Jorge Lopez|date=December 14, 2023|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/harrison-bader-to-sign-with-mets-on-10-5-million-deal-as-ex-yankee-becomes-outfield-depth-per-report/|title=Harrison Bader to sign with Mets on $10.5 million deal as ex-Yankee becomes outfield depth, per report|last=Anderson|first=RJ|date=January 4, 2024|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

In the {{mlby|2024}} season, the Mets started off with a dismal 22–33 record. However, after a players-only meeting was held by shortstop Francisco Lindor on May 29,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-30 |title=Mets hold 'productive' team meeting after frustration boils over in series finale loss to Dodgers |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mets-hold-productive-team-meeting-011510652.html |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> the Mets significantly improved the rest of the way, mainly from the [[McDonald's]] character [[McDonaldland|Grimace]] putting the Mets on a winning path, and the song "[[OMG (Candelita song)|OMG]]" by infielder [[Jose Iglesias (baseball)|Jose Iglesias]] under the stage name Candelita, becoming a rallying cry for the whole team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Grimace to The Playoff Pumpkin, Mets' good luck charms explained |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-ties-to-grimace-lucky-playoff-pumpkin-explained |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> The Mets finished with a record of 89–73 and qualified for the playoffs for the second time in three years.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Destiny was on us': Mets prevail in all-time classic to clinch WC berth |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-clinch-2024-playoff-berth-with-win-over-braves |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> They reached as far as the [[2024 National League Championship Series]] before losing to the eventual World Series champion [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in six games.<ref name="24mets">{{cite news |date=October 21, 2024 |title=Even with NLCS loss, Mets' 2024 season will be remembered for its awe-inspiring run |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2024/10/21/ny-mets-2024-season-will-be-remembered-for-its-awe-inspiring-run-nlcs-loss/75741503007/ |access-date=November 13, 2024 |publisher=NorthJersey.com |ref=}}</ref>

On December 8, 2024, the Mets signed superstar outfielder [[Juan Soto]] to a 15-year, $765 million contract in the offseason, the [[List of largest sports contracts|largest contract in professional sports history]]. It is also said that the contract has ushered in a new era in Mets history and in all of New York baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2024/12/08/mets-sign-juan-soto-to-record-765-million-contract-could-top-805-million/|title=Mets Sign Juan Soto to record $765 Million Contract: Could Reach $800 Million|last=Brown|first=Maury|date=December 8, 2024|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=December 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42864917/sources-mets-land-juan-soto-15-year-765m-deal|title=Sources: Mets land Juan Soto on 15-year, $765M deal|last=Passan|first=Jeff|date=December 8, 2024|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=December 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tredinnick |first=Andrew |title=How Steve Cohen, Mets shook New York's baseball landscape with historic Juan Soto deal |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2024/12/09/steve-cohen-juan-soto-new-york-mets-record-contract/76857284007/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=North Jersey Media Group |language=en-US}}</ref>