With big signings and big spending comes big expectations, and the New York Mets are about to learn that. With the shocking signing of Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets are officially in “World Series or Bust” mode, a stark contrast from years past with regard to pre-season expectations from the outside world.

Despite taking home the National League pennant and reaching the World Series in 2015, the season began with modest expectations outside the team’s clubhouse. A year ago, the Mets were thought to be at best a dark horse candidate in a division supposedly owned by the Washington Nationals. Internally, the Mets believed themselves capable of a postseason berth, but a lack of outside expectations made them free of any pressure to achieve such lofty goals. As a result, the Mets were able to sneak up on people who underestimated them, but that will not be the case in 2016.

Before re-signing Cespedes, the Mets had an offense they hoped would be middle of the pack in the National League, one they hoped would be enough to complement what many believe is the best starting rotation in baseball. But with Cespedes coming back, the Mets now have a game-changing bat in the middle of their order that’s capable of carrying the team for weeks at a time, as well as making things easier for the rest of the lineup. The Mets adding Cespedes to their lineup erases any lukewarm sentiment about the team’s offensive prowess in 2016, giving them more than enough firepower to complement an outstanding pitching staff and make New York obvious contenders to repeat as National League champions.

With Cespedes back on board, the Mets will have largely the same lineup they had at the end of 2015, outside of marginal upgrades made to the middle infield. They will have the same starting rotation as well, except without annoying innings limits, and a bullpen that may actually be stronger than last year’s with the addition of Antonio Bastardo. Thus, the Mets will have no viable excuse for not reaching the World Series in 2016, and those are the type of expectations that the team has not had to deal with during the Sandy Alderson–Terry Collins era.

Expectations from the outside to be a World Series caliber team adds a new dimension to New York’s 2016 season. It’s something that will have to be dealt with by a team with a core that is still relatively young despite their postseason experience from last season. The addition of Cespedes for 2016 is undoubtedly exciting for the Mets, but it will change how the team approaches the season and what is expected of them; it’s now World Series or bust for the Mets, and anything less than a return to the Fall Classic will be an utter disappointment.