In a season of inconsistent starts and blown opportunities, the veteran rotation struggled to deliver when it mattered most. The New York Mets finished the year without a true ace, leaving the staff vulnerable and fans frustrated. With the dust settled, it’s clear that acquiring a high-impact pitcher isn’t just desirable, it’s essential for turning this rotation into a legitimate contender next season.

A blueprint for such a move already exists. The White Sox once offered Garrett Crochet in exchange for a package headlined by Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat (ranked 18th and 83rd, respectively, according to recent ESPN Top 100 prospects), plus a few additional prospects. While that deal didn’t happen, it showed exactly how valuable the Mets’ top young talent can be in acquiring a frontline starter. Now, the same pair of prospects could headline a trade to bring a new rising star pitcher into New York’s rotation, giving the staff the ace it has long needed.

Mets could target a rising ace who dominates in Houston to anchor their rotation

The blueprint is clear. Just as the White Sox saw an opportunity to trade Garrett Crochet while he still had two years of arbitration control, the Mets could approach the Houston Astros in much the same way. The Astros, who missed the postseason for the first time since 2016, are facing an aging roster and one of baseball’s weakest farm systems. Their bright spot in 2025 was the emergence of starting pitcher Hunter Brown, who also has three years of arbitration remaining. For Houston, turning a high-level starter like Brown into a package of top prospects would be a prime way to accelerate a rebuild.

For the Mets, the trade framework is simple: start with Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams as the headliners. This mirrors the White Sox’s offer for Crochet and gives New York a credible anchor for negotiations. To sweeten the package, the Mets could include starting pitcher Will Watson, their No. 11 prospect, and outfielder Nick Morabito, the team’s No. 16 prospect. Together, these pieces offer the Astros immediate value and potential future stars—exactly what they would be seeking from a Brown trade.

Few pitchers dominate like Hunter Brown, a potential ace the Mets could rely on

Brown himself is ready to command attention. In his fourth MLB season, the right-hander elevated his game to All-Star level, finishing 2025 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 206 strikeouts over 185.1 innings. His development trajectory suggests he is entering his prime just as the Mets’ rotation needs stability, control, and dominance. Adding Brown would not only plug the glaring ace hole but also send a clear signal that New York is serious about contention.

With the depth in the Mets’ farm system, parting with Sproat, Williams, Watson, and Morabito would sting—but the team has a wealth of rising stars ready to step up. Trading these pieces for a proven ace like Hunter Brown would address a glaring rotation need while still leaving New York’s future intact. It’s a move that balances immediate impact with long-term stability, giving the Mets the frontline starter they’ve been chasing without mortgaging their farm for the long haul.