This is the best possible Mets rotation for Opening Day 2024

Julio Urias is a free agent at the end of the season and would be a perfect top-of-the-rotation element for the Mets next year.
Julio Urias is a free agent at the end of the season and would be a perfect top-of-the-rotation element for the Mets next year. | Jim McIsaac/GettyImages
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No. 3 starter for the best possible New York Mets rotation in 2024: RHP Aaron Nola

Aaron Nola has been a familiar foe for the Mets his entire career, perhaps because he has spent all of it with the Philadelphia Phillies, and he's been, at times, one of the best starters in baseball. He has gotten votes for the Cy Young Award in the National League in three of the past six seasons, including a third place finish in 2018.

Nola was reportedly offered a contract worth more than $100 million last winter, but he rejected it. And he might have lost some money because of it. Why? He has taken a bit of a step back this year, as his home run and walk rates have nearly doubled, though he is still walking just a tad over two batters over nine innings. But his career has been a bit like Max Scherzer's in a way, because his ERA correlates well with him keeping the ball in the ballpark.

He'd also go from a notorious hitters' park in Philadelphia to a pitcher-friendly park in Queens if he signs up with his division rival for a few years. And like with Urías, the Mets could capitalize on a smaller price tag since his value has gone down a bit, and can go deep into games. He threw over 200 innings in three of the last four non-pandemic seasons, and is on pace to do it again this year. He'd be a really good value get for the Mets this offseason.

Schedule