Intro/Summing up the last 8 years

The Mets are coming off a season where they overachieved in a huge way, putting up a 90-72 campaign while dealing with off-field issues such as innings limits, injuries, and questions about the payroll. As a Met fan for as long as I can remember, watching the entire season unfold with the mixed bag of emotions it gave off was such a unique experience, and looking back it truly was a turning point in the team's history. 

Let's start off with the basics that everyone already seems to know:

For simplicity sake, the last 8 years will be summed up in a some short bullet points. 

2009-2014: The average Mets fan would look like this

• December 2008: Fred Wilpon, owner of the Mets, loses an estimated $700 million in a Ponzi scheme led by Bernie Madoff. 
• 2009: The Mets have their first losing season since 2004, going 70-92 with a payroll of around $135 million (2nd in the MLB)
• 2010: Major League Baseball gives ownership a $25 million loan.
• 2011: Wilpon receives a $40 million loan from the Bank of America.
• 2013: After five straight seasons of finishing in 4th place in the NL East, the Mets payroll sits at a minuscule $73 million, which ranks 23rd in the MLB (on Opening Day). 
• July 31, 2015: After getting off to a 52-50 start, the Mets acquire OF Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for two minor league pitchers. Other additions include: Tyler Clippard, Addison Reed, Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, and others. 
• August-September: Cespedes captures the hearts of Met fans, hitting an outstanding 17 HR in 57 games, carrying the squad to it's first postseason berth since 2006. 
• The Mets sneak past the Dodgers in the NLDS, and sweep the Cubs to earn it's first National League Pennant since 2000. 

In 2015, the attendance rose, and the fan base was back again. 

• After losing the World Series 4 games to one to the Kansas City Royals, the Mets entered the off-season with more questions than answers. 

Now, what did the Mets do this off-season?

Excluding the minor moves they made, these are the one's that I will will greatly impact the team moving forward. 

• 12/9/15: The Mets acquire 2B Neil Walker from Pittsburgh in exchange for P Jon Niese. 
• 12/10/15: NYM signs SS Asdrubal Cabrera to a two year, $18.5 million contract. 
• 12/11/15: OF Michael Cuddyer announces his retirement, freeing up around $10.5 million in extra salary.
• 12/15/15-12/23/15: The Mets sign LP Jerry Blevins, P Bartolo Colon, and OF Alejandra De Aza.
• 1/22/16: Reliever Antonio Bastardo is signed to a two year contract worth $12 million, and DFA pitcher Carlos Torres. 
• 1/26/16: The Mets announce that they have re-signed Yoenis Cespedes on a three year deal worth $75 million. 

Obviously the big one here is bringing back Cespedes, but that topic alone requires a few articles in itself. In fact, each move deserves it's own spotlight, so that will give me ideas for the future. 

As for the present time, the Mets currently stand to kick off their Spring Training season on March 4th against the Miami Marlins. To say that I am excited for this game would be a huge understatement, even though it is only an exhibition game. 

Let the games begin....Okay in a few weeks.