The Mets entered last offseason with a host of items on their agenda.

It was a new regime led by president of baseball operations David Stearns, who was entering the fold after a season of unfulfilled expectations. His first order of business was hiring a manager, then filling out a roster littered with voids following a trade deadline sell-off.

Stearns pitched the idea of competing through a transition year. The expectations were somewhere in the middle. But what unfolded throughout the 2024 season proved to be a dream scenario as temporary risks paid off and eventually launched the Mets into the National League Championship Series.

With the spending now relatively under control, the Mets' prospects of contending for a World Series appear more feasible. The success of the 2024 season might pave a bolder path for the team next season and open some doors in the free-agent market.

With a load of cash freed up and on the heels of an encouraging campaign, we rank the Top 10 players we think the Mets should target ahead of 2025:

10. Michael Conforto

After two seasons with the Giants on a two-year, $36 million deal, the former Mets outfielder will be back on the market this winter. And the price tag is not expected to be nearly as high.

The Mets have some questions in the outfield, with Harrison Bader set to hit free agency, Tyrone Taylor coming off two surgeries in November and Starling Marte entering his age-36 season. Conforto could provide some depth in the corners and a much-needed lefty bat. He's coming off a 20-home run, 66-RBI season, with a 116 OPS+.

9. Walker Buehler

A season ago, Stearns gambled on a pair of prove-it pitchers in Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, and both paid off. Buehler, who returned from his second Tommy John surgery this past season, could fill a similar mold.

Buehler struggled in his return during the regular season, posting a 1-6 record with a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 75⅓ innings and 13 starts. He did come alive in his final three postseason outings, tossing 10 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts, five hits and four walks to help the Dodgers win the World Series.

Buehler will be 30 on Opening Day, but he might need to back up his playoff performance to earn a lengthier deal.

8. Teoscar Hernandez

The Dodgers' signing of Hernandez flew somewhat under the radar following the team's lucrative deals to land both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old, nine-year veteran proved to be ultra-important to their run.

During the season, Hernandez ripped a career-high 33 home runs with 99 RBI and 31 doubles while batting .272. He plays both corner outfield spots and would provide a source of power from the right side.

7. Jack Flaherty

Flaherty ended up being one of the biggest names to move at last season's trade deadline. The right-hander went from the Tigers to the Dodgers at the buzzer and closed the campaign with a combined 13-7 record, 3.17 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 162 innings.

He had some ups and downs in the playoffs, notably shutting down the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS and Yankees in World Series Game 2, but allowing 16 earned runs in three other starts. Still, at age 29, he provides some of the best top-of-the rotation upside in this free-agent class.

6. Christian Walker

If the Mets cannot hold on to Pete Alonso, they will have a massive void at first base. Outside of Alonso, Walker provides the most explosive option. And approaching his age-34 season, the Diamondbacks first baseman's services could come at a cheaper cost.

Walker, a notable All-Star snub last season, posted a .803 OPS with 26 home runs, 84 RBI and 26 doubles in 130 games. He has posted an OPS above .800 in the last three seasons.

5. Sean Manaea

This one just seems to make sense, with the Mets front office contending with several major holes from their 2024 starting rotation. The veteran left-hander, who opted out of his $13.5 million player option for 2025, could still return to Flushing, where he was able to regain his footing.

After a year spent between the bullpen and rotation in San Francisco, Manaea altered his mechanics and rose as the Mets ace. He was 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 181⅔ innings. And he seems to genuinely like New York.

4. Pete Alonso

The record books are there for the taking if Alonso opts to return to the only team that he has ever known.

The front office, led by Stearns and owner Steve Cohen, understand just how much Alonso means to this fan base. With 226 career home runs, Alonso is already third on the Mets' all-time list. He has never hit fewer than 34 home runs or driven in less than 88 RBI in a season.

He remains a cornerstone for the franchise, and a departure would be sorely felt.

3. Roki Sasaki

As mentioned before, the Mets need pitching, but Sasaki provides something that many of the other top-end pitching free agents don't — youth. The Japanese fireballer, with a splitter to boot, is only 23 years old and could lead a rotation for half a decade while still in his prime.

The Mets need another front-end arm, and Sasaki could thrive under the wing of Kodai Senga. Under MLB rules, he would have to sign a minor-league deal since he is younger than 25 years old. The financials might not matter, but the Mets could sell him on their experience with Japanese-born players and a championship vision.

2. Corbin Burnes

Consistency is the name of the game for Burnes, and that makes him one of the most alluring free agents on this year's market. Entering his first season with the Orioles, the right-handed ace had finished in the Top-10 in Cy Young voting in four straight seasons. He struck out 200 or more in three straight seasons.

Burnes will receive Cy Young votes again after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 194⅓ innings. His cutter has not been as diabolical as it once was, but he still finds a way to deliver year after year.

1. Juan Soto

Free agents like Soto don't come around too often, so now is the chance for Cohen to flex his financial might to bring in one of the pillars of a franchise for the next decade-plus.

At 26 years old, Soto is already a World Series champion, five-time Silver Slugger and four-time All-Star. He is coming off a career season in which he tagged 42 home runs and supplied 109 RBI and 128 runs. He possesses an uncanny eye at the plate.

The Mets should open the vault for one of the most transcendent offensive players that the game has seen in recent memory. They are already one of a few marquee teams who will meet with him to try and lure him into their uniform.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets free agency: Ranking 10 players they should target for 2025 season