The Nolan McLean ‘potential’ that could anchor Mets’ rotation this season — and beyond

PORT ST. LUCIE — Let’s take the most optimistic stroll through the Mets rotation.

That Sean Manaea is the second half of 2024 and David Peterson the All-Star first half of 2025. That Kodai Senga returns to being the guy he was before leaping for Pete Alonso’s high toss to first last June 12, at which time he was a Cy Young front-runner, and Freddy Peralta is the guy who just finished fifth for the Cy. That Clay Holmes takes another step forward in Year 2 back as a full-time starter and Nolan McLean is just a full-year starter after that scintillating eight-outing cameo last year amid the Mets’ crumble.

This is not asking for something from five or six years ago. These are all recent occurrences, enough that Carlos Mendoza said he saw “quality and depth” for his rotation. I see a jigsaw puzzle that could all fit together wonderfully — or not.

By the way, that does not make the Mets different from most. Among the other perceived top NL East contenders, Atlanta — already with lots of physical questions in the rotation — learned at the outset of spring that Spencer Schwellenbach had elbow inflammation and was placed on the 60-day IL with concerns it could be a lot longer than that. The Phillies acknowledged that Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) would not begin the season on time and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski conceded he is still hunting for rotation depth.