Dream Mets starting rotation for the 2024 season

Is this the best starting rotation in baseball?

Sep 27, 2023; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch
Sep 27, 2023; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch | Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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Dream NY Mets starting rotation #3 starter: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

After watching Kodai Senga dominate for the Mets this season, Mets fans have been clamoring for the team to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto, another Japanese right-hander. Yamamoto is younger and pitched even better than Senga in Japan, and is also going to make a lot more money.

Yamamoto was nothing short of dominant pitching for the Orix Buffaloes, posting a 1.21 ERA in 23 starts and 164 innings of work. He struck out 169 batters compared to just 28 walks. He topped that off by allowing a grand total of two home runs all year. Yamamoto finished his season with a masterpiece in an elimination game for Orix.

What's most intriguing about Yamamoto outside of his bonkers numbers is the fact that he's just 25 years old. The Mets can sign him to a seven or eight-year deal and have him pitch for them for most if not his entire prime while not having to worry about regression at the end. Most free agents enter at around the age of 30, so Yamamoto is a very rare exception.

The goal the Mets have right now is to build something sustainable. No more aging starting pitchers being relied on heavily like Scherzer and Verlander. Signing Yamamoto not only allows the Mets to have a legitimate shot at winning right now, but they'd be able to win in the future taking his age into account.

The only downside to having Senga and Yamamoto in the same rotation is the Mets would likely need six starters for much of the year. Fortunately, they do have solid depth guys that finished strong in Peterson, Megill, Joey Lucchesi, and Jose Butto.

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