The Mets have signed Mike Montgomery and Tommy Hunter to minor-league contracts (via Tim Healey of Newsday). Both pitchers will receive invitations to major league spring training.
Montgomery has pitched in the big leagues in each of the past six seasons. Best known for recording the final out of the 2016 World Series as a member of the Cubs, he has settled in as a decent swing option in recent years. Since the start of 2017, the left-hander has pitched to a 4.03 ERA across 351 innings. He doesn’t miss many bats, managing just a 17.3% strikeout rate in that time. Montgomery has a decent track record of throwing strikes, though, and has induced ground balls at a strong 53.1% clip over the past four years.
The 31-year-old Montgomery entered 2020 as a member of the Royals’ rotation, but he went down with a lat strain just two innings into his first start. That knocked him out for much of the shortened season; he returned for a pair of relief appearances at the end of September before being outrighted off Kansas City’s roster.
Montgomery could compete for a spot at the back of the rotation or for a multi-inning relief role. That flexibility could prove beneficial for a New York team that’ll be without Seth Lugo to open the season due to the latter’s upcoming surgery to repair a bone spur in his elbow. At the moment, Joey Lucchesi looks the favorite to start the year in the final rotation spot behind Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman and David Peterson.
Hunter, on the other hand, is a pure reliever. The 34-year-old pitched in 24 games for the Phillies last season, working to a 4.01 ERA/3.57 SIERA across 24.2 innings. Decent showing notwithstanding, Hunter’s 91.7 MPH average fastball was down rather significantly from the mid-90’s velocity he showed at his 2013-16 peak. That drop-off, coupled with Hunter’s slightly below-average strikeout (24.5%) and swinging strike (10%) rates, likely contributed to his inability to find a guaranteed deal this winter. Nevertheless, it’s easy to envision the generally reliable veteran earning a roster spot with a decent showing in spring training.
Really like the Hunter inning he’s very solid reliever who put up a very solid fip last year.
Hunter definitely declined last year despite the fip. He lost a lot of velo and looked like he was struggling to get out of innings. That being said he was solid previously and 2020 was an odd year, particularly for the Phillies bullpen.
Lotta guys lost velo last year, let’s see how a (hopefully, crossing fingers) ramp up does for those guys
@MasterCal Definitely. I’ve been a fan of Hunter for quite sometime. Hope he bounces back.
Phillies bullpen just wasn’t that good last year, plain and simple.
It was worse than that. It was horrific. The worst in decades and in the top 3 for worst of all time.
Really good little signings for the Mets here. Montgomery especially.
Couldn’t agree more.
Hunter is from the used-to-be-good-but’s-probably-cooked-now bucket. Sometimes you can get a good season out of those guys. Strength in numbers. No harm signing a bunch of them. Obviously, the velo loss is likely a problem. He’s a good track record, though.
Montgomery is a really sweet add on a minors deal. Would have loved to see the Yanks get him. Good versatile pitcher. That’s going to be a pretty big deal this season.
mets just keep staying active. They’re really putting together a very good off-season.
Absolutely. Mets might be great or they might fall flat on their face. Can’t say they have not made a valiant effort to be very competitive.
@Ducky Buckin Fent- I guess this means that Justin Wilson will be a Yankee shortly? Doesn’t he have a better arm then Mike Montgomery?
They’re different kinds of pitchers, @Yank.
You remember Wilson from ’15. He’s a hard throwing lefty. But Montgomery is more of an Adam Warren type.
I’d’ve liked both, man.
But then I’ve never had all that big of a problem wanting more.
I’d’ve… solid contraction, my man.
Depth.. depth is good.
Good depth is good. Brody signed every out of work ballplayer 2 years ago and they hit a collective 190 or had a 6+ ERA.
Fantastic minor league signings!
Good to see Tommy “The Buffet” Hunter got another job where the employer provides him with free food everyday
How’s your pro sports career coming along slim?
I’m pretty sure the Pablo Sandoval can out eat about any present major league or minor league player. If Bartolo came back he could give the Panda a good competition at the buffet.
Low risk signings for sure and they may end up being useful pieces. I am, however, hesitant to readily endorse anyone who pitched out of the Philly bullpen last season.
I thought these would be major league deals based on the vague title and I got scared for a second lol. But these guys are great depth on a AAA level and will help when the eventual injury big hits us
Tommy Hunter to the DL, in 3…2…1….
Literally the same joke would’ve been made if he signed with the Yankees, because over the last two seasons, no team has had more trips to the DL or IL for those that are offended by DL than them, if I am not mistaken.
That would be the IL in Syracuse. No great loss if that happens.
Great depth signing, Tommy Hunter is better than Zamora, Drew Smith, Castro, Kilome, and Familia, I expect him to make the opening day roster
Should kept erasmo ramirez he was clutch last season
Montgomery is one of those pitchers that can just find a way to be effective, solid signing, surprised he didn’t get a major league deal anywhere. If he can put up career avg stats as a swingman for them it’ll be a steal of a deal.
Mets = signing
yankees = talking
New York has a new best team in town, the M E T S.
Because of Mike Montgomery and Tommy Hunter? If you say so.
I can never understand why people get sucked in to dumb comments, especially when they talk bad about your favorite DOMINANT team.
The biggest slap in the face to those comments is a hard and solid ignore.
I love my Mets and hope they dominate this upcoming and future seasons too but let’s not get crazy. We know who the best teams are and we know who has to play catch up. I hope the Mets are there at the end.
Mets losing
Yankees winning
Mets won’t even make playoffs
Boys, boys! Stop this constant bickering!
You talked to Springer, Bauer, Realmuto, Paxton, Arrieta, LeMahieu, Ozuna, Kluber, Hand, and many others annd only have Lindor to show for it lmao
I’m guessing he didn’t talk to any of those guys.
OK maybe he did talk to the Hand.
I think you’re forgetting they also got Carrasco in that deal and that they still have deGrom, McNeil, Alonso and Conforto among others.
I just pray the Yankees stay healthy. You cannot count on Stanton nor Judge to play everyday all year, and you have to hope Severino and German and Kluber and hopefully Gary Sanchez come back and have a season like their best years in the past. No guarantees. Not much waiting in-the wings behind them.
Lol I mean this is a very real discussion at this point, but what a bizarre time to make that suggestion.
The mets are the third best team in New York
You really picked THIS signing to post that under?
@whyhazee- can’t tell you how much I disagree. It doesn’t seem like a lot of players want to play for the Mets. No Springer, No Cole, No Realmuto, and No DJ. 0-4. Not saying the Mets won’t be good. Just don’t believe their better then the Yankees. I look at the Mets as a wild card team in 2021.
Most of those players the Mets weren’t seriously in on. A free agent signing with another team doesn’t mean they didn’t want to play for yours, they just got offered more. This narrative that players don’t want to play for the Mets popping up everything a free agent signs somewhere else is silly and childish. They didn’t lose out on JT, for example, they preferred McCann’s value. Folks talk like Met fans expect them to sign every big name out there but it’s not the case; it’s outsiders that project this, then foolishly look at every free agent signing in baseball as a fail for the Mets unless they signed them. It’s just stupid.
Mike Montgomery was a high school teammate of … Trevor Bauer:
usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/10/25/cleveland…
Mets fans …. Really? Claiming a win with the Mike Montgomery signing because he was a high school teammate of Trevor Bauer. Whew.
Mets continue to add pieces to an impressive roster re-tooling. The games arent won on paper however, the NL East is strong top to bottom.
none of them will even be on your opening day roster hahahah
Don’t be so sure. And even if they aren’t, injuries are going to happen. Depth is depth.
I love the Mike Montgomery pickup! He had some very dominating outings when we was called to start in 2019. His stuff is good, he has strikeout ability…it’s just a matter of putting it altogether or finding the right role out of the bullpen. Solid pickup on a minor league pact.
DADADAMN! WS CHAMPS 4 SURE NOW!
I thought that was decided and declared weeks ago…
It was…. Only that it be the “other” NY team.. Mets always look good on paper.. but never really put it together when it counts.
The Mets could sign Jesse Orosco at 63 years old and Mets fans would love it lmaoooo
Yankees signing Justin Wilson confirmed
Stop your nonsense
Cool – just post your source if you don’t mind – oh wait, you don’t have one.
Yankees always get their guy! Unlike the Mets. Check the latest report on this site! hahahah
Lol – if Justin Wilson is them getting their guy they have much bigger problems. Mets wanted him back on a minor league deal – Yankees needed him more so they offered a major league deal.
Vintage Alderson-type signings. No comment beyond that.
No comment before that either
Yep vintage execs make over the hill vintage decisions.
I think Hunters numbers will improve in Citi fields biggest confines.
Depth is good.
Hunter basically replaces Brad Brach in a depth move. Montgomery is the second lefty in the bullpen.
Montgomery basically replaces Lugo as a swing man out of the ‘pen. Hunter could be an underrated pickup for the Mets
Don’t forget that they are on minor league deals. The Mets already have a ton of relievers on the 40 man roster