Mets starting pitching plan looks very familiar so far without true ace

If Sean Manaea represents the final major piece of the Mets rotation, the club’s 2025 rotation would bear similarities to the 2024 rotation: plenty of depth, potential and experience, but probably without a true, established ace.For the Mets, who watched that roster construction turn out pretty well last season, that would be OK.“Having a horse at the front of your rotation always helps,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said earlier this offseason.“I think Sean served that [role] this year.

He had a heck of a year.There were points this year where [Luis Severino] did that for us.

You need starting pitchers to pitch well.“I don’t know that I’m going to go into, ‘It has to be the name-brand ace,’ but you certainly need starting pitchers who can carry the load for you.”The Mets were granted an in-person meeting with Roki Sasaki — a step that not every team has received — and can dream about filling out their rotation with arguably the best arm available this offseason for what would be inarguably the most team-friendly deal.But if the Japanese ace chooses the favored Dodgers, Padres or somewhere that is not Queens, the Mets still might have enough capable starting pitchers to carry the load.After agreeing late Sunday with Manaea to a three-year, $75 million contract that includes deferred money, Stearns has assembled five definite pieces of what will be a six-man rotation: Manaea, Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, David Peterson and Clay Holmes.Barring another addition (without another high-end arm expected), Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Paul Blackburn (when healthy) would have the inside track toward the final spot.

Max Kranick and Justin Hagenman could step up as swingmen.Prospects Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong might pitch their way into the conversation later in the season.

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