NY Mets Monday Morning GM: A history lesson Nolan McLean can send David Stearns

The identity of the most successful New York Mets teams has been about pitching. Rarely have they been an organization fully dependent on large offensive numbers. While the 1986 team was an exciting championship-caliber lineup many could see from the start, their rotation was equally as impressive.

Trying to recapture the success of that rotation and ones led by Tom Seaver from much earlier, several different iterations of the Mets trying to piece together an elite rotation have tried and failed. Generation K was the one to fall shortest of success. More recently, the big five of Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Zack Wheeler was meant to end the championship drought. At least one was always hurt during their employment with the Mets. It wasn’t until 2018 when they finally pitched in order at the same time. An early trade of Harvey due to his rapid decline put an end to it prematurely.

Dreams of a similar style have captivated fans once again. The arrival of Nolan McLean is a signal of what can be. Let it be a lesson for David Stearns that you can’t wait around forever to unleash these kids all at the same time.

Injuries stopped past dream Mets rotations from reaching their potential and we can’t let poor decisions get in the way this time around

A few ideas will make someone a billionaire instantly. Preventing sports injuries is one. Curing a disease is another although the healthcare industry might have something to say about that.

Bound for heartbreak along the way with any pitcher, the timing needs to be right like it was for the Mets in 2015. Syndergaard and Matz were rookies. deGrom was coming off of a Rookie of the Year. Harvey was in the prime of a quick career. Absent Wheeler in this particular season, it was the closest to seeing what the Big 5 could all do together at once.

We’ve already experienced an injury to Christian Scott who, you may recall, was a top 100 prospect prior to his Mets promotion last season. He should be back at some point in 2026 from Tommy John Surgery. When he does, he’ll have an opportunity to re-enlist as one of the young pitchers ready to take over in the Mets rotation. Joined by Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong soon enough, it’s an incredible time to be a Mets fan in the very near future; barring catastrophe and inevitable worst-case scenarios.

The Mets held back McLean for as long as they could this year and have yet to give Sproat the nod. Tong, who just dazzled in Triple-A over the weekend, isn’t so far behind. A candidate for the 2025 season? It would be outside of what Stearns has done all year long. For whatever he has in mind for next year, there needs to be a clear path open for Tong to take a rotation spot.

This year was never meant to be about the young kids. McLean quickly ascended while Sproat was stunted due to a poor start in Triple-A. Tong’s rise continued at a reasonable pace. He should’ve been in Triple-A sooner, though. He should have always been a realistic candidate to join the club in September. It feels a little more distant at the moment with maybe only two more starts in Triple-A before rosters expand.

A window to have an inexpensive, talented, and winning starting pitching staff is rare. We figured after the Mets came up short in 2015 they’d be able to get another shot. It never came again with just one playoff game in 2016 and no more until 2022 when only deGrom remained with the organization.