Dream Mets starting rotation for the 2024 season

The New York Mets had what felt like a dream rotation heading into 2023 Spring Training. They had signed Justin Verlander fresh off a Cy Young to replace the oft-injured Jacob deGrom. They signed Japanese phenom Kodai Senga to replace Chris Bassitt who imploded in the Mets' biggest games of the year. They also added Jose Quintana who was set to provide more stability than Taijuan Walker had offered in his up and down Mets tenure.

That trio was set to join a rotation that already had Max Scherzer one year after setting a career best in ERA, and Carlos Carrasco who felt like a luxury as a fifth starter. The Mets had the makings for one of, if not the best rotation in baseball with two future Hall of Famers, a right-hander with a ton of potential, and a back end that had accomplished more than any other back end in the league.

Things never got off the ground for the Mets rotation that dealt with injuries and underperforming players. Virtually everyone the Mets turned to with the exception of Senga either missed substantial time or failed to live up to the billing. Ironically, the Mets rotation looked its best in September when it was really just Senga, Quintana, and a bunch of depth pieces.

If the Mets intend on competing in 2024, they're going to have to revamp most of their rotation. If dreams did come true, this is how the Mets rotation would look in 2024.

Dream NY Mets starting rotation ace: Corbin Burnes

The Mets might not have landed Craig Counsell to manage, but David Stearns should still be doing everything he can to acquire his former player, Corbin Burnes, in a trade with the Brewers this offseason.

Whether Milwaukee actually makes him available following Brandon Woodruff's injury remains to be seen, but the Mets now have the prospect capital to make a deal that would be really hard for the Brewers to turn down.

Acquiring Burnes would not be cheap, but it'd give the Mets the undisputed ace that championship teams have. Burnes is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers not only in the National League, but all of baseball.

The fact that Burnes is entering his final year of team control can be a bit unsettling, but the Mets and Steve Cohen have the financial means to lock him in long term. If the Mets did ever find a way to make a deal for Burnes, they wouldn't be doing it with only one year in mind. He's durable, on the right side of 30, and elite. There's no reason not to do it.