Mets have 2 elite chips to make a major push in the trade market

The New York Mets sit at a crossroads, staring straight at their two biggest flaws: a lack of rotation depth and a true center fielder. Those weaknesses have defined the team’s ceiling over the past year, and the front office knows it. A shaky bullpen doesn’t help either, but the heart of the problem starts with a rotation that lacks a clear-cut ace.

There are capable arms in the organization, but none combine elite talent, youth, durability, and command at a level that screams “number one starter.” It’s the kind of gap that turns a good team into a pretender once October rolls around.

The need for an ace

Pitchers like Tarik Skubal don’t grow on trees. The Tigers’ left-hander checks every box the Mets are missing — electric stuff, age on his side, and top-tier production. Joe Ryan could