It has been almost one month away from the diamond for the Mets.
A calamitous 2026 season meant that the final day of the regular season back on Sept. 27 seemed like a foregone conclusion throughout the campaign. Uneven performance spelled a second straight postseason absence.
The Mets front office has now had plenty of time to map out a plan for the offseason. The Mets locked up their manager in Andy Green late in the season and have added to their front office.
A looming lockout may or may not get the ball rolling quicker on some movement once the World Series ends.
With the official offseason right around the corner, here are some dates to watch and a few storylines for the Mets in the months before the 2027 season:
When does MLB free agency start?
Once the World Series concludes, the offseason begins and teams have a five-day negotiating window to try and retain their own players. Five days after the conclusion of the World Series, players can begin signing with other teams.
The earliest the World Series could conclude would be after Game 4 on Oct. 27. Game 7, if necessary, is slated for Oct. 31.
Who are Mets' free agents and will Bo Bichette opt in?
After a transformative offseason that saw Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso depart, the Mets do not have any unrestricted free agents as they approach the 2027 season.
The one major question is whether Bo Bichette will return. The Mets third baseman has a $42 million player option for the upcoming campaign. He must make his decision on exercising that option within five days of the conclusion of the World Series.
It is a sparse market for position players, adding some intrigue to Bichette's decision, but the 28-year-old is also coming off a down year. He posted a .702 OPS with 18 home runs, 78 RBI and 76 runs in his first season with the Mets.
Will trio of Mets win Gold Gloves?
While David Stearns might not be using the philosophy of "run prevention" any more following a disappointing 2026 season, there were a trio of Mets who lived up to the billing defensively.
Luis Torrens, Carson Benge and Nolan McLean were named finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove at their respective positions this season.
Behind the plate, Torrens caught 10 runners stealing on 30 attempts and he notched a +5 blocks above average - tied for 10th best in MLB. Torrens' +12 defensive runs saved was third-best in MLB. Torrens is going up against the Padres' Freddy Fermin and Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno.
After a shaky start, Benge proved himself as one of the most capable defenders in the outfield in the National League. He closed with a +8 fielding run value while boasting the best arm value in all of baseball. His 10 outfield assists for tied for sixth-most in MLB. He is up against the Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll and Cubs' Seiya Suzuki.
McLean posted a +4 defensive runs saved from the mound. He converted 40 of his 43 defensive chances. The Mets rookie right-hander is a finalist along with the Braves' Chris Sale and Cardinals' Michael McGreevy.
The finalists for the Silver Slugger Awards will be announced on Nov. 2, with the winners named on Nov. 17.
Can Carson Benge win BBWAA Rookie of the Year?
The National League Rookie of the Year figures to be one of the most closely contested races during the Baseball Writers Association of America's awards week. The run, which includes the Manager, Cy Young and MVP awards, opens with the top rookie being unveiled on Nov. 9.
Benge offers the Mets with their best chance to take home any of the awards after he posted the Mets' first 20-20 season in 2026, while flashing dynamic defense. He slashed .282/.346/.430 with 20 home runs, 86 runs, 65 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 22 doubles in 156 games in his rookie season.
The 23-year-old figures to see stiff competition from the Reds' Sal Stewart and Cardinals' J.J. Wetherholt for the award. McLean and the Rockies TJ Rumfield will also draw some consideration.
When are Major League Baseball's GM meetings?
The annual meeting of baseball's top executives will take place between Nov. 9 and 12 in Las Vegas.
The potential for a looming lockout on Dec. 1, with the league's owners and the MLB Players Association negotiating a new labor agreement, adds further intrigue to this year's festivities.
Also, the impact of that uncertainty on player negotiations before the turn of the new year will be fascinating, making this season's GM meetings more captivating than before.
The owners will meet one week later in New York City as the clock ticks down on their current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Will Mark Vientos be given a contract? When is MLB non-tender deadline?
The Mets have 10 players who are eligible for salary arbitration if they do not have a contract in place for the upcoming 2027 season.
The non-tender deadline for teams to offer contracts to these players is Nov. 20. If players have not agreed to terms on a contract by mid-January, the players and his representatives and the team undergo an arbitration hearing in February to determine the terms of the contract.
The Mets will have to decide whether to tender contracts to names like Mark Vientos, Austin Warren and Cionel Perez, who provide upside but do not have any minor league options remaining entering 2027.
When are MLB's Winter Meetings?
While Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings are in question based on the league's labor negotiations, it is slated for Dec. 7 through 10 in San Diego.
A season ago, the Mets were the talk of the event after the departures of Diaz and Alonso were hatched at the event in Orlando.
The top free agents heading into the offseason include Tarik Skubal, Randy Arozarena, Michael King, Clay Holmes, Seiya Suzuki and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Will Mets get a top pick in MLB Draft? When is the lottery?
The MLB Draft Lottery is slated for Dec. 8 at the Winter Meetings, barring a work stoppage which would push it to a separate date.
There is a great deal of intrigue for the Mets in this season's lottery. The Mets finished with the fifth-worst record in MLB and have a 62.6 percent chance to pick in the top six or 8.68 percent chance at the top pick.
If the Mets' pick falls outside of the top six, it would drop 10 slots down the board due to the club breaching the luxury tax threshold
When is the Rule 5 Draft and who could be picked from Mets?
The Rule 5 Draft, which is held on the final day of the winter meetings, allows teams across the league to select players who have not been added to a team's 40-man roster within five seasons of the time of signing if they were 18 years old or younger or four seasons if they were 19 years old or older.
The Mets have a number of players who they would need to add to the roster to ensure they're not open to be grabbed by another team this winter. That list includes Ryan Clifford, Jacob Reimer, Jefferson Rojas, Chris Suero, Marco Vargas and Jack Wenninger.
When does Mets' 2027 spring training and season begin?
The Mets are scheduled to play their first Grapefruit League game on Feb. 19 against the Marlins at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Mets' regular season begins on the road in Miami, with Opening Day slated against the Marlins on Thursday, March 25. The Mets' home opener is Friday, April 2 against the Giants at Citi Field.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What’s next in Mets offseason? 2027 free agency, key dates and questions