Important dates to know for the Mets' 2015-2016 offseason

The Mets' Game 5 loss to the Royals in the World Series marked the end of an extraordinary season. Reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Mets clinched the National League pennant in emphatic fashion—winning a grueling NLDS series against the Dodgers before sweeping the Cubs in the NLCS. While the Amazins came up short in their journey to win their first World Series since 1986, the team appears poised to make another run in 2016. Listed below are vital dates for the team's offseason.

November 6: Teams must decide whether to exercise contract options or let players become free agents. November 6 is also the deadline for teams to make qualifying offers ($15.8 million) to their free-agents-to-be. Yoenis Cespedes will very likely seek a long-term contract on the open market and cannot be given a qualifying offer. The Mets have made a qualifying offer to Daniel Murphy.

November 9-12: The General Manager meetings take place in Boca Raton, Florida. It was during the General Manager Meetings last year that the Mets signed Michael Cuddyer to a two-year contract.

November 9-12: The American and National league Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young, and Most Valuable Player Awards will all be announced.

November 13: Any qualifying offers must be accepted or rejected by this date, one week from the deadline for offering the QO (November 6).

November 20: Deadline for the Mets to protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. The Mets received a strong contribution from Rule 5 pick Sean Gilmartin in 2015, and briefly lost Logan Verrett to the Baltimore Orioles before he returned to the organization in May. Notable Mets who aren't currently protected on the 40-man roster include Robert Gsellman, Josh Smoker, Wuilmer Becerra, Matt Bowman, Travis Taijeron, Danny Muno, Jayce Boyd, and Brandon Nimmo.

December 2: The non-tender deadline. Earlier this year, we previewed of the Mets' arbitration-eligible players.

December 7-10: Winter Meetings will take place in Nashville, Tennessee. Amid a chaotic few days for several teams during last year's Winter Meetings, all was quiet on the Mets front.

December 10: The Rule 5 Draft will be held.

January 15: Salary arbitration figures exchanged.

February 1-21: Salary arbitration hearings take place.

March 1: Mandatory reporting date for all players.

Mets 2016 Regular Season schedule listed here!