Nolan McLean's worthy ace ranking bodes well for NY Mets' present and future

In the lexicon of baseball, no word's definition is as hotly contested as "ace" is. Often used interchangeably with No. 1 starter (as well as several other words), an ace is something different altogether. Every team in baseball has a No. 1 starter. Someone needs to pitch first in a rotation. But not all teams have an ace. Getting one was one of the New York Mets biggest priorities this offseason.

As far as who is and isn't an ace, most fans, analysts, and insiders default to the logic of "I know it when I see it." Guys like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes are undoubtedly aces, but as you move further down, disagreement begins to set in. The insiders over at The Athletic (subscription required) tried to answer this question with their ace tier rankings.

In reality, this is a list of the top 50 starters in the game, broken down into opinion-based tiers. Definitive? No. Insightful? Yes. According to these rankings, there are only five aces in the game. Skubal and Skenes were separated out into their own mega-tier called "The Inner Circle." Other relevant tiers are "The Doorstep Knockers" and "No. 2s and No. 3s," the latter of which is where we find two Mets being represented.

Freddy Peralta came in at No. 21, surpassed by Nolan McLean, who edged him out by finishing 19th. McLean coming in ahead won't surprise Mets fans, but may be a shock to other fanbases who aren't as familiar with the happenings in Queens.

More important than the validation of McLean's talent, this is a signal that the Mets are very well set up for the present and the future.

Nolan McLean's ranking in The Athletic's ace tiers bodes well for a Mets' future with or without Freddy Peralta

Ostensibly, Peralta was acquired to be the ace and lead the staff, and ceremonially, he'll have that role as the Opening Day starter. However, as Juan Soto's eyebrow-raising Kodai Senga comments prove, there is much subjectivity in determining who is and isn't one outside of the extremely obvious.

What this does mean is that the Mets have two extremely talented pitchers atop their rotation, solving one of last year's biggest Achilles heels. It will help them fend off long losing streaks, navigate a highly competitive NL East, and make noise once the postseason rolls around.

What happens with Peralta beyond 2026 is anyone's guess. It's been reported that it's highly unlikely that New York reaches an extension agreement with Peralta before Opening Day. That tracks with David Stearns' reticence to give out long-term contracts to starting pitchers, especially when it comes to the type of money Peralta is potentially looking at.

While some fans might feel a bit uneasy with that, it's largely fine. Peralta will be 30 in June. He's a very good pitcher, but he's not likely to get any better, and as the rankings show, he's really a high-end No. 2.

McLean, however, is just beginning his career and is regarded as the same class of pitcher as Peralta. He's arguably already better, and he will continue to get better as he gets more big league experience. He also has a great mentor to learn from in the former Brewer. Starting from where he is at, by the time the calendar flips to 2027, we could be talking about him in true ace fashion to the point where it's undisputed.

The sky is the limit for the 24-year-old, and he will only ascend from here. While the more talented starters a team has, the better off it is, New York will be just fine with McLean leading the rotation if Peralta walks away in the offseason.

The Mets entered the offseason needing a top-end starter to anchor the rotation. They went out and got one, but they also had one right under their noses at the same time. Checking that box so emphatically should have you bullish for 2026 and optimistic about 2027, regardless of what the future holds.