The New York Mets have reportedly taken a significant step in bolstering their starting rotation for the upcoming season. According to sources close to the situation, the team has reached an agreement with veteran right-hander Frankie Montas on a two-year, $34 million contract. The deal, which is pending a physical, includes an opt-out clause after the first year.
Montas, 31, brings a wealth of experience and potential to a Mets pitching staff that has seen several departures this offseason. With the free agency of key starters like Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana, the team was in need of reinforcements to complement their remaining rotation pieces, such as Kodai Senga and David Peterson.
A Proven Track Record
Throughout his career, Montas has showcased the ability to be a frontline starter when healthy. Armed with a diverse pitch mix that includes a splitter, slider, cutter, and a fastball that averages around 96 mph, he has the tools to dominate opposing lineups. His 2022 season, which was limited to just 1⅓ innings due to arthroscopic shoulder surgery, was a setback, but the Mets are banking on a return to form.
Bouncing Back in 2024
Despite the injury-shortened 2023 campaign, Montas showed enough promise to earn a one-year, $16 million deal from the Cincinnati Reds last offseason. He was eventually traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he finished the season with a 4.84 ERA over 150⅔ innings, striking out 148 batters while walking 66 and allowing 24 home runs. While these numbers may not jump off the page, they demonstrate Montas’ ability to take the mound consistently and provide quality innings.
“Frankie has electric stuff when he’s on,” an anonymous scout told reporters. “If he can stay healthy and find his groove, he could be a real difference-maker for the Mets.”
Mets’ Offseason Maneuvering
The signing of Montas is just one piece of the puzzle for a Mets team looking to retool after a surprising run to the National League Championship Series last year. The departure of several key players, including first baseman Pete Alonso, designated hitter J.D. Martinez, and outfielder Harrison Bader, has freed up substantial payroll space for the team to work with.
According to insiders, the Mets are far from done in free agency. The team is rumored to be among the favorites to sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto, who shares an agent with Montas in Scott Boras. However, even if they were to ink Soto to a record-breaking deal, the Mets are expected to remain active in pursuing other high-profile free agents to round out their roster.
Building on Unexpected Success
The 2024 season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Mets, but they defied expectations with a thrilling postseason run. After sneaking into the playoffs, they proceeded to oust the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card round, trounce the Philadelphia Phillies in the division series, and push the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to six games in the NLCS.
Much of their success can be attributed to the performance of their starting pitching. Despite losing Opening Day starter Kodai Senga for a significant portion of the season, the Mets managed a respectable 3.91 starters’ ERA, thanks in large part to better-than-expected contributions from short-term signings like Manaea, Severino, and Quintana.
The Road Ahead
As the Mets look to build on their 2024 success, the addition of Frankie Montas to their starting rotation could prove to be a savvy move. If he can regain the form that made him a sought-after arm in the past, Montas has the potential to be a stabilizing force in the middle of the Mets’ pitching staff.
Of course, there are no guarantees in baseball, especially when it comes to pitchers with a history of injury. But for a Mets team with championship aspirations, the upside of a healthy and effective Frankie Montas was clearly worth the risk. Only time will tell if this gamble pays off, but for now, Mets fans have reason to be cautiously optimistic about the state of their team’s pitching as they head into the 2025 season.
