Excitement mounts for '15 with Citi Cardholder presale

After signing a two-year contract with the Mets this week, veteran All-Star outfielder Michael Cuddyer said of his new team: "I believe the time is now for us."

The time is now for those who want to watch what happens next, as Mets 2015 Single Game Ticket presale orders are available exclusively for Citi Cardholders. This front-of-the-line access at mets.com/citipresale will run through 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, before regular-season tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. the following day.

Citi Cardholders can purchase tickets to any Mets home game, including Opening Day and the Subway Series (while supplies last) with a Citi credit or debit card.

Jacob deGrom just won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. All-Star right-hander Matt Harvey and Bobby Parnell will be back. Juan Lagares returns as a Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder. There already was a sense of excitement heading into next season, built around a young nucleus of talent, and the addition of Cuddyer as a corner outfielder rubber-stamped an expectation of contention.

"I'm excited to get into the uniform," said Cuddyer, who went to six postseasons with Minnesota and brings a much-needed power bat to the middle of the Mets' lineup. "I'm excited to get down to Florida [for Spring Training], and get started, to win, and hopefully win the NL East, and do some damage in the postseason as well, because I believe the time is now for us."

Video: Cuddyer discusses why he decided to sign with Mets

The Mets will open the 2015 season at Washington on April 6, and after that first series against the Nationals and Braves, they return to Citi Field to open a run of 13 consecutive games in New York -- including a 10-game homestand followed by three games over in the Bronx. That 10-game homestand, matching the club's longest of the season, will feature three games against the Phillies (April 13-15), four against the Marlins (April 16-19) and three against the Braves (April 21-23).

The Mets conclude the regular season on Oct. 2-4 with three games at home against the Nationals, who won the NL East title in 2014. That looms now as a potentially big finish to a season of promise -- at least based on current expectations within the organization.

"Our organization is going in the right direction," first baseman Lucas Duda said after the Cuddyer signing. "We missed a few guys last year, obviously Harvey and Parnell. That's huge. From what I've heard . . . [Cuddyer] is a great teammate, a great person, obviously a great baseball player, goes hard every night. I'm looking forward to having him on our team.

Video: Duda shares thoughts on Mets signing Cuddyer

"I think we're close. To make a move like that, the front office shows us that it's time to go. Great signing by them, and I'm just anxious to get out there and get Spring Training rolling and meet the guys."