March 14: Eppler today provided reporters with more information, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Quintana will undergo bone graft surgery on his rib and isn’t expected back until July at the earliest.
March 13, 3:15 pm: General manager Billy Eppler tells reporters, including Tim Britton of The Athletic, that the report of the three-month shutdown is “premature.” They are still talking to doctors about next steps.
1:30 pm: The Mets are planning to shut down starter José Quintana for the next three months, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post. The left-hander had recently been diagnosed with a stress fracture in one of his ribs and was sent for more imaging. It seems the injury is significant enough that he will miss roughly the first half of the season. However, Andy Martino of SNY has a slightly different viewpoint, reporting that the club is still considering different scenarios and will decide what to do in the next few days, with the three-month shutdown being one of the options being considered.
Quintana, 34, has long been a steady and reliable big league starter, primarily with the two Chicago clubs. From 2012 to 2019, he tossed 1,485 innings between the Cubs and White Sox with a 3.72 ERA. Outside of his rookie season in 2012, he made at least 31 starts and reached the 170-inning mark in each of those campaigns. That was followed by a couple of frustrating seasons, with a thumb injury holding him back in 2020 and the lefty struggling to get back on track in 2021. However, he finally got back into a good groove last year, tossing 165 2/3 innings between the Pirates and Cardinals with a 2.93 ERA, 20.2% strikeout rate, 6.9% walk rate and 46.4% ground ball rate.
The Mets were facing a great deal of rotation uncertainty this winter, with Jacob deGrom opting out of his contract while Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker each declined options. With all three of those hurlers reaching free agency and eventually signing elsewhere, the Mets spent aggressively to rebuild their rotation around incumbents Max Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco. They gave Justin Verlander an $86.67MM guarantee, $75MM to Kodai Senga and $26MM to Quintana, the latter on a two-year deal.
That gave the Mets a strong on-paper rotation but one with risk. Four of those five starters are over 34 years of age, while the 30-year-old Senga is going to be transitioning from a once-a-week throwing schedule in Japan to the five-day cycle of North American ball. We’re still not through spring and the Mets are already going to be turning to their depth options with Quintana set to miss significant time. Whether Quintana is ultimately shut down for three months or not, he’s likely facing an extended absence either way. Assuming Quintana is back to health in three months as planned, he will return to the mound in June. But he will then have to effectively redo his Spring Training, taking a few weeks to build back up to a starter’s workload, meaning the Mets will possibly have to look to other options until July or so.
Fortunately, the Mets have some solid depth options to turn to, such as David Peterson or Tylor Megill. The left-handed Peterson made 19 starts and nine relief appearances last year, posting a 3.83 ERA while striking out 27.8% of batters faced, walking 10.6% of them and getting grounders at a 49.4% clip. However, Puma reports that the club appears to be leaning towards Megill taking the rotation spot at this time. His 5.13 ERA from last year isn’t terribly impressive at first glance, but it’s possible that injuries played a role in that. As the Mets were dealing with injuries to start last year, they gave Megill a rotation spot and he posted a 1.93 ERA over five April starts. However, he allowed three earned runs in his next start and eight in the one after that, lasting just an inning and a third in the latter. He went on the injured list for biceps inflammation after that, came back for a couple more rough outings and went back on the IL for a shoulder strain.
Regardless of whoever ultimately gets the job, the Mets are now moving down their depth chart with this Quintana injury. It’s extremely rare for any team to get through a season without an injury like this, so the Mets surely anticipated having to call upon Peterson or Megill at some point. Still, it’s always unwelcome news when it actually comes into play. The club is set for what should be another tight divisional race this year, likely jockeying for position with Atlanta and Philadelphia for the top spot in the NL East, with the Mets already facing a significant hurdle in their path.
dodged a bullet
Somewhat surprised no one has connected the dots: rib fractures seem to coincide with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).
Just saying.
Buckner spot on as TOS ended Matt Harvey’s career!
Or was it a bullet that caught him in the torso?
Can’t Cohen just buy him another rib? A gold one?
Hilarious comment I guess that’s the clown talking …
I didn’t know he moonlighted as Neo in the off-season.
It was also a cancer scare but luckily the biopsy was negative.
Ouch.
Also not a luxury many teams can afford.
@jvent
I mean, if you are signing a scrub like him to begin with, you probably can’t afford the loss either. Not talking about Andy Pettitte.
We’re not talking about a scrub, either. While he’s highly unlikely to repeat it, Quintana did post an ERA under 3.00 last year and is at least likely to keep it under 4.00.
He’s a total scrub. Last year was an outlier. Check out his couple of seasons prior. He didn’t end up on the Pirates by accident.
The lack of shift was going to crush Quintana IMO. Not to mention not playing in the NLC. I didn’t love this sigbing for the Mets.
If only there was some way to look at how he pitched for LA vs PIT or game logs to see how he did vs non nl central teams or if he had the opportunity to pitch in post season.
He ended up on the Pirates because they offered him a contract that subtly included less stress of a larger market and the willingness to work directly with thei pitching coach on his mechanics
Coming off a then 90+ loss season, the Bucs knew they weren’t going to be contenders so pressure to pitch to a small market audience, was something he embraced
Apparently TheMan 3 has been reading Quintana’s journal. Such insight
He was on teams notorious for bad pitching processes.
@YourDreamGM: WTF? He never pitched for LA.
Check out his early seasons, as well. His years with the Cubs are the more likely outliers.
The angels.
Mets can either with their AARP rotation
I mean, he’s their #5. You really don’t think any team can withstand losing their #5?
As so often happens, he stayed healthy and had the best year he’s had in recent memory during his walk year. Then the predictable injuries come after signing the big contract. Just like with Rodon.
Wonderful! Senga, Quintana, Raley, Montes De Los Oca…. How long until 50 year olds Verlander and Scherzer succumb?
Meanwhile in the Bronx, Yankees are having their own injury fun. I love it!
saratoga72 Has a rich and full life? He loves it when other people are injured?!
Says someone saying a player sucks in his user name.
Hey Sid that’s a comment on performance, accurate one and not wishing another human getting hurt and losing his livelihood!
I guess calling someone a “total scrub” is more intellectual.
@Canosucks Showing up when there is a perception of fair weather for your favorite team is definitely very intellectual. It may not garner must fan respect, but it certainly is intellectual.
No that I called you out on this again, go mute me like you did before because you hate being called out for fairweather fandom. And because you can dish it, but can’t take it.
LOL, I don’t know if it’s intellectual, but it’s true. 😉
It’s improbable that Scherzer and Verlander will pitch into their 50s, but look at Tom Brady (45), Minnie Minoso (I know, just an at bat here and there in his 50’s and 60’s), and that pitcher whose name escapes me who went from the negro leagues to the majors in his 50’s or 60’s (he never told his age). Just sayin’.
Satchel Paige is who you are looking for – I think he ended up getting some MLB innings at the end – what a shame he didn’t get 20 years in the MLB.
Thank you.
Satchel was a 42-year-old rookie in 1948 and pitched until 1953 in the majors. Then Charlie Finley brought him back to start a game in 1965 at age 59. He pitched 3 scoreless innings vs the Red Sox.
This is why I’ve been saying the Braves are better.
Damn, are the Mets going with Carrasco and either Peterson or Megill as 4 & 5
Which isn’t bad..They have more depth than most with those two and a guy like Lucchesi..
Lucchesi is returning from TJ surgery and pitched horribly yesterday. He hasn’t looked good since his return from surgery.
They also have Elieser Hernandez.
He is a “total scrub” I think is the TR approved expression..
Tommy John patients generally get better as they go in their first year back. Besides, it’s Spring Training, where any pitcher can have a terrible game or two as they get back into shape..
Come on down David Peterson next man up.
Assuming his injury isn’t serious
Surprise? Old guys get hurt. Doesn’t matter what they cost.
@Joe Have any stats to back up the age claim? MLB player percentage of IL time by age?
@joe Looking at the Players already on the injured list 12 of 17 are under age 30. Maybe the percent that will change as we approach opening day, but as of now I’m not seeing your age theory as being true
https://www.thebaseballcube.com/page.asp?PT=tranx&view=injuredlist
Mets just buy another! It will be a delight when your payroll id $500MM a year
And you still lose!
Not a Mets fan, just think blaming injuries on age when looking at 16-42 year olds is a blinders on approach.
The body breaks down as we age. It’s called nature. Assuming you are still a young pup and have not experienced this–we all get a bit more brittle as we get older.
Hey Joe,
Mets payroll after this year will be back under the salary cap.
Still paying for Cano McCann and 4/5 the starters leaving.
Sideline Redwine- It all depends on how well you take care of yourself. Some players work out on their own or with personal trainers during the off-season. The ones that do it year round are in better shape than younger players. It’s good for everyone, not just athletes
Stress fractures are not age related.
Can anyone really be sure he wasn’t suffering from osteoporosis at the time of fracture?!
Send Seattle Francisco Alvarez and we’ll send the Mets Flexen,,,he will do you wonders 🙂
Been there,done that. He’s OK, but not needed….yet
I figured after Jesus Montero, Seattle wouldn’t want anything to do with prospect NY catchers.
There might be interest in Escobar, who has a similar salary.
Nah, we’re keeping Alvarez, but could I interest you in Chico Escuela?
So it begins. Peterson will take his place.
Article says the team is leaning towards Megill
Close comments – even Mets fans doesn’t deserve this.
@MetsFan22 notwithstanding.
Thanks, RunDMC what we don’t deserve is Billy InEppler and his crappy picks!
All of Cohen’s money won’t put humpy dumpty back together again with an idiot like Bill E.
Speaking of his picks as Darin Duff got a hit yet?
Peterson will pick up the slack…
A hit for sure – but Megill and Peterson are decent #5s. NYM better equipped than most to handle this. But if one of the big 2 goes down, they are in major trouble. Not unique – if PHI for instance lost Wheeler, they would also be in trouble
Relying on two 40 yo SPs to carry the team deep into a postseason run is a flawed strategy. The Mets have no top flight SP in their minor league system. You are looking at Butto oh my. Lol
Nola/Wheeler are a good bit younger than NYM’s top-2, while Ranger Suarez/Walker are above average at the backend, not even including their top-2 prospects also include (MLB’s top SP prospect: Painter & Abel), which NYM doesn’t really have on the farm. I wouldn’t doubt Falter to have similar numbers to Megill over a full season.
That SP depth will be tested out of spring training for the second time in two years. At least it’s only 3 months and the Mets have Peterson who I’m sure is motivated to build off the season he had last year.
Obviously he wasn’t signed to lead the rotation but their margin of error just got a bit tighter.
I guess treating your baseball team like it’s a fantasy team isn’t always the best idea.
Hate the Mets, but I don’t wish this on anyone. If he is shut down for 3 months then he will have to go through a modified ST to build arm strength and then have multiple starts before actual debut. Post All-Star break possible impact SP.
So, basically what DeGrom gave the Mets last year?
Minus the hope.
Interesting how some people posted twenty minutes before the article was published.
It was updated silly
Will the Mets sign Trevor Bauer
he is fto a good home basically and healthy
Ha ha. That would be an interesting turn of events. Can you imagine the icy atmosphere at the next owners meeting if that went down.
Bauer just signed in Japan for $ 4 MM
I should have posted a reference sorry
https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1635328684751036418
nice catch!
DarkSide830,
Thanks I used to hear that one alot in my 20’s as a young whippersnapper. Thanks for bringing me back to the good old days. Lol
Ok. Bauer surrenders.
Not sure he should be pulling out either of his swords over there.
He should do well over there or else he will become another Joe Pepitone.
I had to google him. Joe lived a full life !
Well known in NYC he lived for a bit on Riker’s Island and he comes from a cop family
RIP Joe Pepitone
https://nypost.com/2023/03/13/yankees-great-joe-pepitone-dead-at-82/
Potentially…
Who is next? Scherzer? Verlander? Cookie?
All three probably.
Growing tired of the anti-Mets rhetoric… Stammen’s career is likely over after another injury, but nobody has commentary because he’s with San Diego. I’m almost shocked the trolls haven’t commented about Marte’s head attracting more pitches because he wears blue and orange.
We get it. You’re a Braves/Philly/Yankees fan and hate the Mets. We hate you too, but maybe stop commenting on every, single, individual, unique post?
The trolls are mostly envious “small” market teams fans.
im a yankees fan,and we are as big market as you can get .however you should be greatful for all those small market teams.we got our butts whipped last year by a small market team.
No one has commentary on Stammen because he wasn’t signed for much and that team’s fanbase wasn’t strutting around about him. If you are pressed because of the comments, maybe you should just stop reading them?
Met fans should pay attention to the absolute garbage that SteveCohenOwnsYou (formerly You can put it in the books) has posted on every Braves article on this site for the last couple of years. He takes delight in every injury a Braves player suffers and constantly makes disgusting, untrue allegations about both the the Braves organization and their fanbase. No Met fan has a right to whine about “anti-Met rhetoric” when they have pond scum like Books representing them. Never see Met fans disputing his “rhetoric.”
They don’t have the right to whine, but Lord knows they do it anyway.
I read the comments section on Marte, other than someone trying to make a lame joke about him being hard headed, I didn’t see a single negative comment.
Why do you automatically assume I condone crappy behavior on any side? That being said, I’ve seen it be one-sided, including Braves fans on Twitter celebrating 9/11.
At some point, it stops being sports and becomes something awful.
Well, you didn’t call it out, so that was a clue. I have never seen a Braves fan cheer about 9-11, was there even social media then or was this recent? Special place in hell for anyone that would do that. In October 2001 we were all Mets and Yankees fans.
Utter garbage. Show your work NMK—-in other words, let’s see a link to ANY Braves fan “on Twitter celebrating 9/11.” If you can, I’ll condemn any idiot who made that comment. Btw, the first tweet was sent on Twitter March 21 2006. I didn’t say YOU condoned Books antics. I said “Met fans should pay attention” to the personal attacks Books makes on every Braves article before any of them whine about “anti-Met rhetoric.”
Because you’re too lazy to search for it yourself…
https://twitter.com/JMincone/status/1581726302540689408?t=wTRczwwz6avqJoNKL4kdAA&s=19
https://twitter.com/p0KeR_p0KeR/status/1559849916259831808?t=6QjO4-9822HAuejA0iKcDg&s=19
https://twitter.com/MYInfamousTake/status/1568950786465349634?t=XrocsbZjO4TZo4mSZ4o5lg&s=19
https://twitter.com/annabrice/status/1559803167805624320?t=JmeufFccO3vy8gUX8VG74g&s=19
https://twitter.com/ChristinaMets15/status/1559375051446796290?t=TOYhPPGcz_r5q6RSbSD2Sw&s=19
Screenshot of a specific instance before deleted and name changed on Twitter
https://twitter.com/genymets/status/1556105010819252224?t=f81hjcnqpjly_S5czPjcUQ&s=19
I see a bunch of Mets fans crying about 9-11 jokes, but the only joke I saw was the pasta and sauce one, which was tacky, but hardly makes up for years of obnoxiousness emanating from Queens and surrounding areas. Am I just not seeing something?
So one idiot? That’s what you have. Don’t pretend that this comes close to excusing Mets fans completely ridiculous and abrasive behavior for an entire season. That comment was made in August, well into the season where you guys all acted like you were the best thing ever. Still no excuse, but one fan doesn’t make a fan base. No wonder you guys have such an inferiority complex.
So you depict that as Met fans crying about nothing and one “tacky” 9/11 joke? Ignoring the fact that using the death of innocent Americans and the permanent scar left on a major city isn’t funny, you’re just gonna ignore that this is proof more Tweets were out there and then got deleted/hidden to avoid the backlash. You’re disgusting.
Sample size of one, bro.
GTFOI.
So one meme is supposed to prove all sorts of other comments? Gtfoh with your nonsense.
@SidBream. ….and no one is strutting about Quintana. I can assure you of that
If you go back to the original article about the signing, there were some.
@NMK Get used to it. The Mets payroll makes them public enemy number one. Mets are used to being the gritty underdogs, but now they’re going to be perennial favorites. So the haters will come out. I do think there’s valid concern about this rotations health, but at the end of the day, the Mets still have a deep roster and will be making the playoffs. No big deal.
It’s not just the payroll. It’s the thin-skinned weak sisters that root for them and derive 80% of their self-worth being fans of a crappy franchise. A bunch of loud, 5’6” domestic abusers. Then when they think something good is going to happen they mobilize all season and yell people down in unison, right before having another Choketober.
Hey, wait a minute. I’m 5’6”.
And a gentleman, I am sure.
Go Padres
Nmk, probably because Stammen was not on the Padres 40 man after he signed a minor league deal.
No Padres fans came on here claiming he would have a sub 3 ERA at age 39.
Not the realistic ones. His time was up. His choice to give it a try and didn’t work, All the best in recovery and coaching.
Leaving for Phoenix tomorrow baby! Haven’t been to ST since 2020 – right before it closed down.
You will have a blast. My wife and I have been staying in Scottsdale for the last 10 days and have gone to a spring training facility everyday and 7 games so far. Heading home to Florida Thursday, but we will definitely come back to Arizona for at least a week next year.
Who’s the Dr who passed this guy’s physical? Shemp Howard. Million$ wasted
The same ones that deemed Carlos Correa unfit.
I resemble that remark…
“for duty and humanity”
Could have been Dr. Fine…..?
Dr. Pepper?
I thought he should replace Bassitt, but he replaces DeGrom on the IL
Dodgers have some young ready to go pitchers if mets want to trade
What do the Mets have that the Dodgers could possibly want?
Was right about Quintana, Senga, Raley, Luchessi, Carrasco, etc. Its almost like I know more than the GM about how to assemble a team. Give me 400 million dollars to spend and my team would go 120-42. Honestly, most GMs in the league could do that but under Eppler we will win optimistically about 90 wins
Give me 400 million dollars to spend and my team would go 120-42.
=========================
That’s my go-to response when some of the rich team fans start talking about their GMs. It is not rocket science to win with huge payrolls.
Whelp, tough way to start the season. I am not sold on Mets SP depth, one more significant injury and things can get grim fast. That said, I think theyre fine giving Megill a chance at 5. Just have to keep everyone else in one piece….easier said than done.
Another stupid Billy Ineppler signing!
@Canosucks Haven’t thought of that one, perfectly fits him. Theres a reason why the most dysfunctional team in baseball fired him. The Mets gave a 4 year contract to their 10th choice to GM a team. How stupid can you be
@LFGMets I am a long time Mets fan who lives out in Angel Honk land, so I caught his act out here! And to be fair I was not the first to use that nickname on MLBTR to give credit where credit is due.
He signed him when he was the Angels GM.
The funny thing is that Quintana had one of his worst seasons on the Angels, Eppler is the worst GM in the league
Yes and he sucked with the Halos! Oh I am sorry “total scrub” is the approved TR term.
Cubs had the same problem with Quintana as he never stayed healthy after the trade.
Does well in the walk years, of course.
Same with rodon. never healthy much for the white sox, suddenly healthy in the contract year.
Big Sexy just pushed himself back from the table at the King Riblets-n-Fixin’s All You Can Eat Buffet, cocked his head to one side and is listening for that inevitable phone call.
Well the Mets do need a DH, so…
i support this 100 percent
baseball needs bartolo
This would be peak LOLmets except this is a spring training when ballplayers everywhere are going down every day — and that’s not good for baseball.
So if the Mets finish 3rd do they still make the playoffs?
Maybe, but no matter what, it’ll still be funny that they’ll be the most expensive third place team in sports history. They’ve already been the most expensive second place team in sports history.
What more accomplishments will the Mets-cenaries do?
You mean “most expensive … team in US sports history”. Chelsea FC are in a worse bind — spendthrift signings, mid-table team. And Chelsea are owned by an American who has his hooks in the Dodgers.
$101M guaranteed to Senga and Quintana…. I hope neither of them ever throws a pitch for the Mets! Cohen decided to use his filthy hedge fund fraud proceeds to drive small market teams out of business, and I hope he burns in H-ll. I hope the Mets are such a tiré frire of overspending, underproducing, and chaos they make 30 for 30 specials about how awful the Mets were.
I hope the same for the team you like, I guess?
I thought we were collectively over rooting for injury, yet here we are.
Rooting for injuries doesn’t cause injuries. I can’t imagine any player cares what I root for. If you have a problem with me rooting for injuries, I’m sure you will get over it.
You’re absolutely right.
But it’s a pretty clear indication that you’re not a worthwhile person.
And for that reason I’m out.
Muted.
While it’s not good news they’ve lost him to July, it is fortunate that the tumor was benign.
So much for the three-month report being ‘premature’.
Turns out it’s really more like four months.
Everyone too busy lolling mets to understand he actually had a lesion on his ribs that was biopsied and came back as being.
Instead of bashing the signing, it’s a good day when someone is told they don’t have cancer
sourhaze ,can you direct me to the arcticle that says he has cancer?the only person this is a good day for is quintana.he gets to sit in doctors offices and his sofa,and laugh at everybody every time he goes to the bank to withdraw money.13 mil.to sit at home and go to doctors,ill take that,lol
He could have had cancer, but because it was benign he is fine, maybe you should do your research before commenting
I see your problem. The other one is just a terrible person. I’m gonna assume you are not. It’d be terrible to be talking to two terrible people…
The sentence should he benign. It changed it to being. However my last sentence does indicate it was a good day when someone is told they don’t have cancer.
So I’m completely aware he doesn’t have cancer
@Sourhaze I was responding to Slimray
@slim
Who should I blame for what made you the way you are?
He doesn’t have cancer. Re read what I said. I never said that
While MLB trade rumors didn’t report it many other outlets indicated a tumor/lesion was found on his rib. He consulted a tumor specialist surgeon and it was biopsied and came back as benign. Therefore the surgery. It’s still there.
Hey its cool if you wanna bash players who had a cancer scare. Tell me when they found a lesion in your rib.
How dare he not pitch
Nothing a good trade deadline acquisition can’t fix. Their depth gets them to the deadline, they nab the markets top starter (whomever that may be). Quintana rehabs, maybe tosses a few starts in Sept and they can use him in the bullpen, piggybacking during the playoffs .
All good Q, rest and heal up for the second half!
Good news for Q, less good for Mets. Hope hes back to 100% by July.
Everyone was saying how this guy gives them depth but not so much now.
The Mets lose for 3 months their second youngest starter, and their only starter who was able in 2022 to handle a 5-man rotation.
This is concerning.
Their oldest starter, 40, missed 2020 and 2021. Their second oldest, 38, missed more time in 2022 than any other season of his career. Their third oldest, 36, has had only one season since 2018 of more than 80 innings, and his ERA since then is 4.38. Even in his best year since then, 2022, he averaged fewer than 5-1/3 innings a start. Their youngster, 30, doesn’t pitch in 5-man rotations and will be thrown into the breach for the first time in his career.
Peterson, Quintana’s replacement, doesn’t average 5 innings a start and only has one year with a FIP under 4.50.
It’s going to be rougher than many think.
But hey, if you’re going to cheap out at only $350m in payroll, what do you expect?
The McRib is BACK!
The Cubs traded Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease for Jose Quintana.