The Mets announced they have signed right-hander Frankie Montas to a two-year deal that contains an opt-out clause for Montas following the 2025 season. The Boras Corporation client will reportedly earn $17MM in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons for a $34MM guarantee.
Montas returns to the Big Apple after an injury-plagued stint with the Yankees during the 2022-23 seasons. The Yankees acquired Montas from the A’s at the 2022 trade deadline when Montas was still trying to work through some shoulder discomfort, and his ill-fated attempt to pitch through the pain led to a 6.35 ERA over 39 2/3 innings during the remainder of the 2022 campaign. Montas then required labrum surgery the following February that cost him almost all of the 2023 season, as he returned to pitch 1 1/3 innings in one game at the very end of September.
The Reds bet that Montas would be able to bounce back when healthy, and last January signed the righty to a one-year deal that ended up being worth $16MM — $14MM in guaranteed salary, and then a $2MM buyout once Montas declined his end of a mutual option for the 2025 season. Perhaps showing the after-effects of his long layoff, Montas had a 4.84 ERA over 150 2/3 combined innings with Cincinnati and Milwaukee last season, as the Reds sent Montas to the Brewers last July in another deadline trade.
Apart from a minimal 15-day IL stint due to a forearm contusion, Montas was pretty healthy in his comeback year, and the 150 2/3 innings represents the second-highest workload of his nine Major League seasons. As the 4.84 ERA might imply, however, Montas (who turns 32 in March) ran into some struggles. His 22.6% strikeout rate was slightly below the league average, and he surrendered a lot of walks and a lot of hard contact.
Montas’ 14.8% home run rate was the highest of his career, and he actually allowed more homers after leaving the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark for the more neutral American Family Field. His fastball velocity dropped from 96.1mph to 95.6mph, which isn’t bad for a pitcher returning from a yearlong absence, but the larger issue was Montas’ sinker was the only effective pitch in his arsenal. It is worth noting that Montas’ velocity and strikeout rate did increase after the trade to the Brewers, so another change of scenery might now more fully get him back to his pre-surgery form.
MLBTR ranked Montas 27th on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and his $34MM guarantee significantly tops our prediction of a two-year, $22MM contract. The higher price could reflect the ever-rising price of pitching, and the Mets and other teams might have put a greater premium on Montas’ ability to eat innings.
The Mets in particular had a glaring need for rotation help, as Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Jose Quintana are all free agents. Montas now fills one of those holes in the pitching staff, and he’ll join Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and (if healthy) Paul Blackburn as the current starting five, though more additions are surely still to come this winter.
Much of the buzz surrounding the Mets this offseason has naturally focused on their courtship of Juan Soto, but New York has also been linked to such pitchers as Roki Sasaki and trade candidate Garrett Crochet. There has been speculation that the Amazins could also pursue some of the top names on the pitching market, though there hasn’t been any public news on that front to date.
It could be that the Mets are holding off on other big-ticket pursuits until Soto’s situation is resolved, and Montas’ contract represents a fairly less-expensive foray into the free agent market that helps address the club’s chief need for pitching. For now, the Montas contract resembles the two-year, $28MM deal (also with an opt-out) that Manaea signed last winter, as president of baseball operations David Stearns has thus far stuck to his strategy of inking starters to shorter-term contracts. Montas is surely hoping that he can follow Manaea’s path of delivering a stronger full season, and then returning to free agency next year to land a lengthier and pricier contract.
The $17MM average annual value of Montas’ contract still leaves New York with plenty of space before it hits the $241MM luxury tax threshold, as RosterResource projects the club’s tax number at roughly $189.7MM. Obviously avoiding the tax hasn’t been a priority in the Steve Cohen era and signing Soto to a record contract would alone put the Mets at or near the threshold before any other moves are made. Just in case Soto does sign elsewhere, however, a world exists where the Mets could be aggressive this winter and still reset their tax situation entirely, which would allow the Mets to enjoy more financial flexibility (and a smaller overall tax bill) going forward.
It is perhaps noteworthy that Boras represents both Soto and Montas, and it seems likely that Boras and Stearns have discussed several of the agent’s many clients during their conversations this offseason. Montas is already the third Boras-represented pitcher to sign a new contract this winter, after Blake Snell’s five-year, $182MM deal with the Dodgers and Yusei Kikuchi’s three-year, $63MM pact with the Angels.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan (X link) was the first to report the signing and the contract terms. Jon Heyman of the New York Post (via X) added the detail about the opt-out clause, and the specific breakdown of Montas’ salaries over the two seasons.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
That’s not Corbin Burnes…
@frank the tank. That could be the serverino replacement.
And not a good replacement at all
I disagree, Montas has a nice smooth delivery and his fastball is still sitting mid 90’s, another year removed from the injury issues should help his confidence. Certainly the possibility that Severino has a better year, but if you had to choose between the two based on the way they throw the ball, I’d take mt chances with Montas.
I would choose between on the field performance and the better pitcher which is Severino by far. These types of deals increase the market for underachieving pitchers. Montas hasn’t had a good season outside of his time with the A’s
That would be a reasonable approach. But watch Montas throw, he has a sweet delivery. Very smooth, very repeatable. Severino not so much. I think the Mets signed the guy who is less likely to be injured based on the mechanics of the two pitchers, and in that sense there is less risk in Montas. Of course anomalies are nothing new in this world and it would be no surprise to see Severino in the all star game and Montas on the rack. Let’s hope both avoid injury and have good seasons. I for one am a Frankie Montas fan and am interested to see how he fairs this season. Good pickup for the Mets.
I’ve watched Montas plenty. That sweet delivery had him injured for 2-3 seasons. I don’t think it’s a good pickup at all. But as a Met fan I hope it is.
MrMet based on what? Do you have any argument to make or are we all supposed to think this is a bad contact simply because MrMet1979 2 said so?
Based on Montas being a below average MLB pitcher since he left the A’s four years ago. It’s called common sense. But as a Met fan I hope I’m wrong.
It’s called a shoulder injury. Not many guys pitch well with one.
Rodon had injuries for years with the Sox, he also has excellent mechanics, and he has been solid for the Yanks. With the injury concerns, I think the pitchers mechanics have to be evaluated closely, if you see flaws that are incorrectable, it’s that much more concerning. If a pitcher has excellent mechanics, I’d say there is a better probability that he can put the injury issues behind him.
I remember that when he’s on the IL by June.
Is “common sense” glossing over injuries?
He’s not a replacement for Sevy who has a ERA of 7 the season before he was a Met?
Dollars to donuts you were here whinging about how Sevy and Manaea weren’t good replacements for Scherzer and Verlander
Actually I wasn’t whining over anything so let’s not put words in my mouth. Is it common sense to be a mindless homer that’s incapable of being objective about your baseball team? Montas isn’t Severino by a long shot but I guess 17 mil a year is the going rate for a #5 starter these days. Unless they don’t sign Severino which would actually make Montas his replacement because they’re the same type of pitcher in a similar situation.
MrMet
You’re objectively at sea here man.
Montas got $16 mil last year. He got $17 mil this year. That’s the market for starting pitching. Deal with it.
“Montas isn’t Severino by a long shot”. Because you say so?
Not because I say so. Because their record and overall performance from the last decade says so. That’s the common sense part of it. At their peak Severino is better. Don’t be afraid of those facts. And more importantly don’t forget that we root for the same team. Try giving some insight instead of trying to discredit the next man’s opinion with arrogance.
You just called me a homer then implied I should be nicer because we’re both Met fans.
“At their peak Severino is better. Don’t be afraid of those facts”
You have a fundamental misunderstanding of what constitutes a fact and an opinion.
Also common sense means everyone would think the same and there’s no argument to be had, but here we are disagreeing about your opinions (“facts” to you) so common sense doesn’t really apply to debates about FIP and ERA+.
Well you called me a whiner initially so immediately you implied that you didn’t respect my opinion. Truth be told where I come from men don’t speak to each other like that. It’s a snowball effect. That’s kind of how disrespect works. The facts still say that Severino has been a better pitcher over the course of their careers even when you factor FIP and ERA+ into it. But the Mets have money to spend so perhaps a bigger move is coming.
I agree. Pitching results post-injury ought to be considered fickle. You must judge the arm, the delivery and the overall mechanics of the pitcher. I treat it as extended spring training to the point the pitcher begins to regains his control. Controlling your mechanics is everything in pitching. Montas will get it all together soon and should be better than Severino when he does. This is a much better deal than paying Severino’s asking price.
Pivetta is an anomaly. I think he needs to learn the strike zone and pitch selection, which is why i feel with the right pitching coach +he could be a winning free agent signing.
“Truth be told where I come from men don’t speak to each other like that.”
Ok tough guy, I guess we’re past the part of the conversation where brains are necessary.
Montas has never been better than Severino at any point in his career that’s a reach. But I hope I’m wrong for obvious reasons and he does well in a Met uniform. I think a bigger move is coming.
It wasn’t meant to be tough at all. This is the Internet which is why I wouldn’t call someone a whiner if I disagreed with their opinion. But I shouldn’t be surprised with the name you’re using. That tag name implies disrespect. It’s all good
Nobody called anyone a whiner. Your reading comprehension skills are as deplorable as your baseball wherewithal. I said you where whinging, which is something whiners do, but you weren’t called a whiner.
You were too eager to do some “around here we solve problems the old fashioned way” type tough guy routine but its 2024 man not 1979 and you just look like a neanderthal.
No I look like a Met fan with an objective opinion. It’s an open forum where people share their thoughts. You started with the disrespect so there’s no need to rationalize that BS. My comprehension skills are just fine. I wouldn’t expect anybody with the tag line “Don’t be dumb” to respect anything. You’re right it’s 2024 where guys can hide behind keyboards and talk down to guys they’ve never met.
It’s funny how you can type one sentence about due respect then the next about how you’d normally prefer to fight people IRL.
If you want respect, earn it. Don’t come here with nonsense and expect a safe space where people support you no matter what. If you say dumb stuff you should expect to be called on it. The alternative is to stay off the Internet and keep your opinions to yourself since you can’t punch everyone who thinks your opinions are a farce.
Btw since you’re such an arbiter of disrespect maybe check back and see you called me a mindless homer first, you hypocrite.
That’s right I did call you a mindless homer immediately after you called me a whiner because you disagreed with my opinion because I said something that supposedly went against the Mets. More importantly stating Severino is a better pitcher than Montas isn’t dumb it’s actually a fact that been proven over the course of a decade. I said nothing about fighting anybody. But I’m deeply sorry if you feel threatened.
“my reading comprehension skills are fine, I’m intentionally misquoting you because it suits me”
Does the 17 million for a 4.84 ERA need to be said or does it make its own point?
Yeah who knows really…
Montas has made 27+ starts in 3 of the last 4 years, missing almost all of the other year (1.1 IP). ERA: 4.02 WHIP: 1.26
Severino has made more than 19 starts once (last year) in the last four years. ERA: 4.29 WHIP: 1.26
He’s been better the past 5 years. Last year was the first since 2018 that Serverino wasn’t injured or bad.
One has had some really good years,the
other? Hardly any. Contender must do better than this.
Stearns and you proving why internet genius stays on the internet lmao
Youve watched montas plenty? Well I’m convinced
Lmao. Its a great move which adds depth with major leauge caliber pitching with every chance to outperform. I would have liked to avoid the opt out tho
Below average in what metrics, and when. All this was said about manaea and severino. Stearns wont always be right but you offer no argument just expect “as a mets fan” to prove youre no joker
No bro no one will remember your absurd conjecture in june
You are asking for a mute mrmet1979
Solid for the Yankees? He missed almost the entire first year of the contract, and part of the 2nd. You have a different definition of solid than I do!
Montas was worth 4, 3, and 2 fWAR in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Missed 2023 with surgery, and came back to put up 1.4 fWAR in 150 innings in 2024. The Mets needed a pitcher who can put up 150 innings from the back of the rotation.
Given how thin the farm is in pitching that will be up and producing in 2025, they needed these innings badly, and getting them through FA was better than trading from a very ordinary farm system
Boras takes no prisoners
Also looks like he’s not waiting this year. Boras isn’t taking the winter off, like he’s been doing.
It likely has more to do with his clients telling him to expedite the process instead of playing the waiting game.
No. Mets are getting ahead an d clarifying to demanding pitchers how many they “need”. Mets just obtained certainty in how theyre perceived
Umm, yay?
A Phillies fan, I presume?
Not bad…
Solid pickup.
Hefty contract
No it’s not. Montas is dooky
Montastic
bad contract on day 1
How is it bad? It’s 17 mill and an option out after year 1. That’s a standard contract for this level of pitcher. Mañaea wants 21+ and severing wants at least 18.
When Montas is not injured he’s mostly ineffective not an upgrade over anyone they had last year
@WideWorld,
If the Mets work their magic on Montas like they did Severino and Manea, they’ll have done quite well with this signing. To me, this signing is very similar to those two.
Milwaukee already did the magic. Mets can always do better but if not so be it.
There is no magic to work here. He has not performed well since getting injured and has already proven he cannot handle NY. Manaea and Severino both had better track records before we signed them. $34 million is an absolute overpay for a backend starter. This one will not end well.
What magic. Another 500 pitcher.
Those are the facts.
Just like they worked their magic on Adrian Hauser (another Brewer reject)!
“has already proven he cannot handle NY.”
Thats not a thing. People said that after Beltrans first season. It’s just typical nyc arrogance. There’s absolutely nothing special about playing in NYC. Social media makes the pressure from the vaunted ny media look like a massage with a happy ending.
@sviscusi
It is a thing as some players cant handle the spotlight. Perfect example is sonny gray and javier vazquez (multiple times) that just couldnt do well for the yankees but was successful before and after leaving the yankees.
Noah Syndegaard is waiting for the Mets to work their magic on him, too.
@Flyby Pure foolishness. These guys have been playing in front of screaming fans including in Boston and Philadephia their entire lives.
What you’re failing to do is a common blunder—namely failing to compare the performance of players you think ‘can’t handle the spotlight’ to a comparable cohort of players before and after trades or free agency.
There will always be some percentage of players who do well before a move, do poorly after the move, then do well against after the latter move If there was a higher percentage of players struggling in NY but doing well before and after NY, there would be a single comprehensive study so showing. There isn’t such a study because the phenomenon doesn’t exist.
It doesn’t even meet the standard of common sense.
David Stearns > WideWorld
Cost of pitching is inflated. 2 years is never “bad”. Easy to eat or trade.
If “eating” a contract is in the discussion it’s likely untradeable. Teams don’t acquire deals to eat them they leave the eating to the signing team.
Hardly. If it turns out to be a bad move, you missed on an AAV that will get you Christian Walker or half of Max Fried.
Reminds me of the Phillies contract with Taijuan Walker
yep
Not even close… it’s half the length and less than half the total salary even if he takes the option to return.
I think they mean to the extent that it immediately looks like a bad deal. I kind of agree, though it’s a short contract so who knows.
The Mets will take Stroman and Walker back provided the Yankees and Phillies keep a majority ( or even 50%) of the contract value on their books.
It’s the reverse of the Scherzer/Verlander thought process. And the Yanks and Phils get some salary tax relief.
BUT HERE’S THE KEY:
Then let the Mets “work their magic” on 2 pitchers who should have been better than they have turned out to be, but maybe could be again. For about $9M a year each.
It instantly fills the Mets rotation and saves money to go for Soto.
I would love to see you go shopping. That’s a seriously flawed analysis.
That was 4/72m. This is half that.
My bold offseason take: Tigers trade for Freddy Peralta
That’s not bold it’s idiotic. Put the bottle down and stop posting online.
That’s bold. But not very likely at all. Probably too bold. The Brewers could probably use a starter as it is for depth, so not likely they’d trade one of their top 3 starters
Unless Detroit sends back two starters.
Only if one of those two was Jobe.
There are a number of boldly incorrect keyboard warriors on this thread.
Boras ended up signing Montas just so Mets could get some extra time to talk with Boras about Soto.
That’s how greasing pockets to land the big contract works. /s
BorASS!
About the only sensible reason Mets needed to sign this guy today. He would have been available in 2 months at that price
@Big whiffa,
I strongly doubt all of that. The Mets aren’t going to sign someone to butter up Boras. This isn’t rookie ball negotiation and signings…not David and Goliath. Mets are very attractive destination, and Mets do what Mets need, and Boras does what he needs for his clients.
Big Whiffa is a big troll.
Ok then, why was Montas the 3rd player off the board and paid way more than projected when he underperformed last season and has an extensive injury history ?
Matt Boyd was also a Boras client. and would have been a better pickup than Montas.
Do people actually believe this kind of thing happens?
They need a lot of pitching. 1 down.
Von, who do you think the Phillies sign? I mean, they can’t sit out again, right?
I think they get creative on the trade market since after Soto (who they won’t get), there’s a huge dropoff in OFs.
I expect them to land an OFer, starter and high-end reliever.
They probably match up well with the Cardinals.
I don’t see them going after Arenado at all.
No Helsley and/or Gray.
They do but this is a downgrade from what they already have.
It’s not a downgrade over what they have. It is over what they had.
This should be the Mets “we think we can improve this guy by about 10% and between Peterson, Megill, and prospects nicely fleshes out the 4 & 5 slots in the rotation (or 3 & 4 slots if you’re a bit of an optimist, or ‘that group now gives us 60 starts somewhere towards the middle of the rotation’ if you’re Farhan Zaidi).
Hard to see how they’re likely to contend, though, without signing a TOR guy, though the new market inefficiency may well involve loading up on competent starting pitching without much upside (but without giving guys like Taijuan and Taillon 4./70m), avoid FA TOR, and compensating with a cheap bullpen and an above average offense—which fits the 2024 Mets pretty well.
I’m not optimistic, though, as to how that fares in the postseason, the 2024 Dodgers notwithstanding.
Yep one down. Probably by June he will be down
Trust in Stearns
This is the Mets, not the Brewers. $17M p/y is a heavy overpay.
@padam. It’s really not bad considering the market. You just hope he has a good year, and opts out.
@Rex – I wish I could be optimistic about this one but I doubt either of those happen.
@padam Given the cost of even mediocre pitching and that Montas will be 33 for the 2026 season and probably puts a premium on total guaranteed money over a 1/17m AAV, he’ll likely be opting out short of near-total collapse.
The Mets probably calculated the frequency of Montas opting in for 2026 at something like 20%, giving the player option a price of $3.4m and giving the deal more the flavor of 1/$20.4m. You can also defray that latter cost somewhat given the live possibility that Montas opts in for 2026 and then produces something useful.
Define overpay! Compared to what?
Compared to wacha… boyd… basically any baci end sp w a little upside. Problem is montas hasnt been effective since first half of 2022. This is a guy you offer 1/$13m and if he says no you say okay best of luck. I’d rather see what butto can do than rely on montas.
A 4.84 ERA getting 17 million and an opt out in December
Overpay defined.
You might want to look at Boyd again. Guys been just as injured and mediocre as Montas,
Stearns teams make the playoffs but can’t win the big one
Stearns teams with highly limited payrolls made the playoffs but couldn’t win the big one. He now has an unlimited budget.
Out of the many FA names I had going to the Mets, Frankie was *not* one.
Nestor will probably be a Met in ’26.
Could absolutely see that
I’d be shocked if anyone picked Montas to the Mets, Clip.
I haven’t checked but after the top ten guys I just started picking teams based on general needs instead of actually thinking about individual players. I probably gave the Mets 3 pitchers in the back half of the top 50, there’s a chance Montas was one of them.
Nestor the…….
!
Nestor the Transgressor, Nestor the Prognosticator, Nestor the Mastor of Polyestor.
What’s a mastor?
Obey your Mastor!!. Mastor!!
@Yankee Clipper,
Who thought Severino and Manea would be Mets last offseason?
We see how David Stearns works. He knows how to find talent on team friendly deal and more often than not, succeeds. And when he doesn’t, he’ll cut players who aren’t working out.
This is not a team friendly deal. At best, they get their value. At that amount, he could get down ballot votes for Cy Young, and the contract still wouldn’t be above water.
Stearns sure does love 30 something washed up SPs … can he & hefner revive yet another career?
The Answer is Yes he can. The same way he helped Sevy.
No, the real answer is maybe. Know one knows for sure which pitchers will or won’t be resurrected.
Or the same way he helped Adrian Houser!
@royhobbs,
He also got Tyrone Taylor in that deal and he’s still a Met and was a solid contributor.
Eventually Houser was cut loose after starting and relieving.
We’re talking Hauser here, not Taylor. Hauser was supposed to be the #4 SP coming out of spring training last year (after Senga was hurt). Stearns is not a miracle worker. He did a very good job last year signing Sevy and Manaea. But Montas was not a good signing given that we have better arms in Butto and maybe even Megill. .
Hauser was a cheap back of the oration starter acquired for spare parts that could be dumped if he sucked. Guess what happened.
It’s almost as if Stearns acquires a bunch of guys to and hopes one works out but is quick to dump those that don’t.
Or Paul Blackburn.
Montas has never been on Severino’s level at any point in his career. This is a downgrade bro.
Hefner dated a lot of good looking blondes in their 30’s…oh different Hefner.
More like dumped them when they hit their 30s.
@DreamGM It’s an approach worth considering, although may be untenable below certain income levels.
Excellent goal for increasing income. Poor people can do it as well if they hit the genetic lottery. But no reason not to achieve both and make pool larger.
So you’re saying being poor isn’t necessarily a hindrance as long as I’m good looking?? But I thought women don’t really like being the Sugar Momma. It upsets traditional gender roles.
They don’t have to be. Lots of families with poor husband and poor wife. Lots of women enjoy being sugar mom as well. Actually best if they make $ imo. If they want $ it limits your pool.
You have to be really ugly and really poor not to pull hotties. Might have a small pool but it’s a pool.
Hefner and Citifield both help starters.
Random
Montas hardly needs to be revived. His 2024 season showed he was most of the way back, and that his arm was sound. He pitched in Cincy, in the GAB. If his 2024 peripherals improve by 10% the Mets will be very happy with this deal.
First of all Hunter Green played for the Reds and he finished with a 2.80 ERA
Second of all Montas only made 9 starts at GAP. He spent half the season with Milwaukee where he had a 4.55 era. this is a very questionable signing for the mets. But they worked magic with manea severino quintana last year might happen again this time
but definitely a lot of other options that are more encouraging than this 1
Jon Heyman of the Boras Corp. who works in season at the NY Post.
Severino’s replacement, essentially.
Seems like a good deal for both sides.
A bit of an overpay, but I don’t think that matters with Cohen.He could afford to lose some of these gambles.
A BIT????
It’s the Cohen tax.
Should have overpayed a bit more to get 2 year deal. I like the gamble but he needs a bigger reward. Who was beating this deal?
If someone was beating this deal, Montas would have signed with them. But that’s true with every FA. You have to outbid everyone else, or they will sign elsewhere.
@halosheavenjj. I’m liking the Hendricks signing more and more.
Same.
It’s won’t be when Montas is on the IL or getting blasted by the NL East all summer.
Replaces Jose Quintana
A big step down!
Would rather have Quintana, honestly.
Montas has an air of their last offseason where they weren’t building a roster to compete…
Not sure this a signing the fanbase was looking at for 2025.
Oh, stop!. They needed to add 3 starters. Not all of them were going to be aces. Let’s see who else they sign and where Montas slots into the rotation before throwing shade. If he’s the #2 pitcher, then go ahead and question it. If he’s #4, this is just fine.
I’d take any of the their free agents over him. Frankie’s star dimmed the moment he was traded off the A’s.
But honestly, I’m just saying this signing shouldn’t be the one the Mets come out swinging with. Their pockets are deeper than Frankie Montas.
Montas was ranked 27th on this sites Top 50 FA. Sure are a lot of FA that are not close to as good as he is.
mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/2024-25-top-50-mlb-free…
He’s…not…good…
Salzilla, thats a pretty closed-ended judgement. His numbers were not the worst last year. And what difference does it make what move they “come out swinging with”. Who gives a bleep which moves were first and which were last? All that matters is how the roster looks in late March. And even that is an overstatement, as rosters continue to evolve even after the season starts.
4.84 ERA puts him near top of the league out of the 5 hole in rotation. 30 starts would have been the most by a #5 starter last season. The Mets are not counting on him to be their Ace. As of today, he is #4 in their rotation and the offseason has just begun. Add Burnes or Fried and he is the #5.
He IS overpaid based on last season’s performance, but its not your money, Cohen can afford it, he is not bad for the job at the back of the rotation they are expecting him to perform.
I’d guess Mets see him as a number 4. Maybe have hopes and dreams of a weak 3. 2 years 34m isn’t a overpay. That’s a solid contract. The opt out is only problem I have. I think he is much likely to opt out and I would have wanted him for just the 2 years. I would have wanted a club option or fixed multiple years. As is you don’t want him opting in for 2026. I think they could have worked out something better. But these teams been doing this for awhile. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. He has a limited market so Mets could have done better imo. But contract has grown on me as is. He likely pitches well and opts out and it is a winning contract.
Not really sure how this contract is going to work out. But, yeah, that opt out is always a concern. The only way he stays is if he underperforms. Then the team is stuck with him, hoping that he bounces back. That said, if he does outperform the $17 mil, he would be a candidate for a QO, and the Mets do need the draft pick(s) as the farm system is loaded with holes. .
He’s worth 17m to me. Just that opt out wrench. Keep healthy, opt out, all good for Mets.
It the Mets sign an Ace, Montas is their #5.
I’m not a Mets fan so ultimately the “it’s not my money” shtick doesn’t jive here nor do I ever really care about the money personally. It’s just that the Mets came off a somewhat surprising second half where you’d think they’d want to start strong and Montas, to me, is somewhat weaker (despite however MLBTR came up with their) than any of last season’s signings. Does this really get the fanbase going? It wouldn’t to me.
If the Mets sign a 5, Montas is their 6.
Garbage signing.
One of the odder player options I can recall, given how unlikely it is Montas will beat a 17m AAV next offseason (yes, I know that’s not all that’s at stake).
@Salzilla Last year is irrelevant to how the FO builds the 2025 Mets. The Mets underperformed the first 56 games, then wildly overperformed the rest of the way. You don’t build the next iteration based on die rolls the previous year.
In any case, of the players they didn’t lose after the 2024 season ended, they only project to about 72 wins for 2025.
If there’s good news in the Montas signing, he wouldn’t be someone you sign if you were looking to remain under the LT for 2025—he just doesn’t have the upside for a repeat of 2024’s strategy.
He’s not even #2 with their current staff. Behind Senga and Peterson if not Butto.
He is behind Senga, Peterson, and Megill and possibly Blackburn if he is healthy. Maybe even behind Butto if Blackburn is not healthy.
If come March 1st this is the only rotation move the Mets have made I will say WTF. I think they are going to add a top of the rotation starter. Burnes or Fried. If they miss on both, then Flaherty. They may even land a couple more starters or sign an Ace and bring back Manaea pushing Butto, Blackburn and Megill to the pen.
I think you’re overrating Megill and Blackburn, but its a moot point. The reality is, as we’ve both said, that the Mets will be adding more starting pitching than this.
I don’t think Met fans would want Montas to be the #7 starter tbh. He’s not better than anyone in their rotation from last season.
Let’s compare the Mets SPs to the Phillies. Let’s say the Mets sign Burnes and Eovaldi (pipe-dream). Our starters still cannot compare to the Phillies:
Wheeler
Nola
Suarez
Sanchez
Andrew Painter (by June – arguably the best young pitching talent on the cusp of being brought up this year).
Bottom line: Even with the pipe-dream of signing Burnes and Eovaldi, we would still be considerably behind the Phillies rotation. with Montas slotted as the 5th starter..
Not sure you’re very checked in here Salz. They stated many times that they were building a team to complete in 2024 only that they were not mortgaging the future to do it.
Please. They cobbled that pitching staff together with pennies. No one in their right mind would think Sev, Manea, and Quintana were pitchers on a competitive team, but they had to hire SOMEONE to pitch. If you bought into that trio as replacements for Verlander and Scherzer, who’s actually not very checked in? 😉
I like all 3 of those, in regular season at least. Playoffs you would desire better but not bad.
The Mets spent a lot on one year deals last year. They weren’t cheap.
Salzilla, the Mets obviously thought those 3 could pitch at a high level and they were right. Those 3 guys combined for an ERA that would rank in the top 5 for teams in MLB.
Injuries to Senga and others forced Houser and Scott and a few others to make starts and they were a nightmare for the team. Even with those guys having to make 20+ starts, the Mets starting rotation ended up 12th in baseball in ERA.
@Salzilla,
Obviously Stearns and Hefner believed in Sev, Manea, and Quintana and it worked out rather well. Stearns has savvy track record.
And this season, more pitching prospects will graduate to Mets majors and hopefully Senga is healthy and pitches like he did in 2023.
Mets will add more starting pitching. Manea really wants to return. Nathan Eovaldi:a good option. Walker Buehler. Would be great if they get the young, flame throwing pitcher from Japan, but every team could be in on him when he posts. He’s not going to sign before January 15th.
You’re right Salz, no one believed in those pitchers at this time last year, and I thought Stearns’ use of the word ‘competitive’ was a bit dubious, and really meant, “hope to be a .500 team”. But thats exactly one of the key points here: the pitching lab. None of us knows or understands what the pitching lab analytics have told the Mets about Montas and what can be done with him. Stearns was big on his pitching lab in Milwaukee, and there’s zero doubt that it plays a role in these decisions. Whether it pans out or not is also up in the air. Something else to consider: a year after being hired, Stearns may have been able to poach another Milw pitching analytics person or two and have even more confidence in the Mets’ lab/analysis now than a year ago. .
I mean that’s relative. Professional players cost money, but they weren’t big money deals. Those were deals meant to get through the season. Frankie Montas doesn’t move the needle more than any of those three.
Nah, the Mets thought these were serviceable pitchers that could them through the season, nothing more.
I don’t th9nk it was a matter of belief, LTF, but more these 3 can get us through the season, period. Obviously this isn’t the only move to make, and there’s plenty of time to improve. But to me that’s a minus 1 from who they had, not an improvement.
At some point that system will fail if you keep leaning on it, geoff. They for sure need to land a bonafide ace to offset what I believe to be a step back.
” No one in their right mind would think Sev, Manea, and Quintana were pitchers on a competitive team”
The amount of unsubstantiated blanket statements on this site is astounding. Don’t drag us into your ignorance.
The Mets had just poached a bunch of talent & development guys and finished the premier pitching lab in the league, Manaea finished a season where he had impressive stretches and went to driveline where he increased velo. Sevy was injured but had recently been a great pitcher in NY when not battling injuries. Quintana is just a good pitcher, it’s silly you don’t know that.
YOU’RE the one not checked in. You do surface level revisionism and pose ridiculous situational logic like “they were scrambling to replace Scherzer and Verlander so they grabbed anyone they could” like are you serious? That’s not how any of this works.
They identified guys they could put in the pitching lab and work on to become competitive. They said they were gonna identify guys they could put in the pitching lab and become competitive. Then they got guys they put in the pitching lab and they became competitive. Is that not clear?
Were folks happy with that trio last offseason? Not that I recall. Did they think these guys are getting us to the playoffs? No they didndid not. That’s what I am clear on, for sure. The Pitching Lab isn’t a sure thing. “Surface level” these are moves teams coasting make, and hate to break it to most stats nerds, surface level is what most fans are. I don’t look at Montas and go yeah he’ll get us what Burnes would because the Pitching Mad Scientist will make him an ace. I look at it how it is. Can I be proven wrong? absolutely. Look at how the Mets ended 2024 as proof, but that’s absolutely not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking perception to fans and the rest of the free agents. Is THAT clear?
True, he doesn’t move the needle any more. But he doesn’t move it any less. As for “they weren’t big money deals”, they were for $13 million. This is $17 mil a year later. Not a meaningful difference.
No one is arguing that they need an ace. But they needed to replace three pitchers. They aren’t going to get three aces, because there aren’t three real and healthy aces on the market. This is just one piece.
Whatever your latest is about I don’t care anymore. My mother has Alzheimers, nice going. Bye!
“my opinions are nonsense and now I’m leaving because you hurt my feelys”
Good for Montas. Guaranteed himself 3 years/$50M off injury and awful performances over the past 3 seasons.
As far as I’ve read, it’s 2 years, 34 mil if he exercises his 2025 17 mil option.
Off injury and awful performances. Did you read that? Montas was paid in 2024.
BIG MONEY COHEN
I only have one question: why?
Wow, this implies to me that there was competition for Montas’ service and I was thinking he’d get 1/9million and be someone’s trade bait like last year. I believe in Stearns evaluation and Cashmans as well and both liked him. But if he’s the #4 starter then he’s placed well and should deliver. Reminds me of last years Stroman contract, hope it turns out better for the metropolitans.
Do not like this signing at all and frankly don’t understand giving montas money w the other options out there
Early Christmas present?
The Mets were a one hit wonder. I won’t be shocked if they miss the playoffs.
Better chance of the Padres winning the West.
I wouldn’t sleep on the Padres.
Wow what an overpay.
I need to take a DNA test that makes me a relative of Cohen. He is just giving money away.
You must be joking? Fringe journeyman with a career WAR under 10?
No doubt an overpay but it’s Cohen’s money, not mine. My guess is that Steverino will be on the hook for the full load. I just don’t see Montas bouncing back enough in 2025 to trigger the opt-out. But what’s the extra $17 million to Cohen?
I’m thinking Stearns may have received some intel from some of his old contacts back in Milwaukee that Montas is looking more like his old self or completely healed from what was ailing him.
No need for intel from Milwaukee. He has a computer and screen. Anyone can have that information.
They have scouts. They probably got up off their asses and actually looked at him. Ya know, airplanes, hotels, etc.
What am I missing here? $34 million guaranteed to a guy who has put up a WAR of 1.0, 0.1, and 0.6 in each of the last three years, including a major shoulder injury.
@mustard tiger. They want the QO pitchers to sign with other teams. That happens if you take guys just below their tier. It’s possible he has severino numbers on a two deal. I’m sure they will land burnes or fried and getting two comp picks back will soften the blow.
Maybe they got got him to get on Scotts good. We over paid for him, not give us soto lolol
War is worthless and so is last 3 years. They only care about what he will do in 2025. I would guess it’s a overpay. I’d call the bluff and let him sign with the “other team”. Only way it’s a 2 year deal is if he stinks. If he does well he is opting out.
You missed 150 innings in his first year back from a shoulder injury. You missed probably 10 press conferences and interviews where Stearns explicitly stated “innings”.
Meh. I suppose he’s a similar talent to Severino and this is similar to giving Severino 1 year 21 million. But I wouldn’t have offered Severino 1 year 21 million.
Metsin7 will badmouth this move. I guarantee it.
@Blue Baron you are 100% right, Dollar Tree David is making a joke of this offseason. Montas isn’t better than any of their departing free agent pitchers and hes proven that he can’t pitch in NY. Burnes, Buehler, Manaea, Bieber, etc are the guys they should be signing, not this overpaid bum
How can you say he’s proven he can’t pitch in NY with a combined 41 innings thrown here during an era injured riddle tenure ? I don’t love or hate the signing it’s whatever but that’s not enough time to say he can’t handle NYC.
@LFGMets,
Trust in David Stearns. He and his front office crew and pitcher evaluators know what they’re doing with what they think they can get out of him.
And BTW, Montas hits 98 and 99 on the radar gun. He can still bring it
@LongTimeFan1 there are plenty of major league pitchers that throw 98 and 99 that still suck. The fact of the matter is that he can’t pitch. Hes going to be lousey, I garentee it. Hes nothing more than a PED abuser
Those are the facts
This proves pitching is still at an insane premium. Guys like Montas and freaking Andrew Heaney getting the money they get for their consistently back of the rotation/borderline Quadruple-A performances.
Thats what we thought last offseason but as it turned out there were just a couple early offseason overpays.
Kikuchi deal not looking so bad now huh. And it wasn’t bad. I’d rather have that but this one isn’t awful. I see the possible reward and Cohen can make that 34m bet without breaking a sweat.
It’s very early in the offseason. Wait until April and then we can talk about who is an overpay and who is not more definitively.
Los Angeles and New York have money that other teams don’t. There will be some good deals for teams we just aren’t to that point yet. Gotta let the big spenders spend first.
It’s a overpay because of opt out. If it was 1 or 2 years it would be fair contract. I think he will be better in 2025. Amazing for players but teams should really avoid them or pay more. There will be better deals. Mets have found these better deals in the past.
Both of the top starter pitchers to sign have received $6 million more AAV than they were projected to get. Very interesting.
Burnes was projected to get $28.75 million by this site and $30 million by nearly every other site. Does that mean he is going to get $35-36 million AAV? 7 years/$245-252 million?
Does that mean Soto will get the same rate of increase over the projections on him. Are the $600 million projections 16-20% low?
I’m not sure where Burnes lands and for how much, but I’m certain that Soto goes way past $600M.
I think Soto lands at just below $700M but over 1.5x the length of Ohtani’s deal but also no deferrals.
Depends. Is Soto a pitcher?
Edman’s extension was for $16 million per WAR. About $6 million more AAV than anyone thought he would get.
I believe the alleged overpay will pay off. Stearns built teams have a track record of maximizing talent, thanks to heavy investments in coaching.. Given that Montas was able to raise his velocity by 2 MPH in a week after being traded, there’s still plenty of life in his arm.
I trust Hefner to straighten out Montas, just as he did with Manaea and Severino.
It’s a overpay. Who was the next highest bidder. I think they could have got straight 2 year deal. Sure they could increase his stuff. Or just lower walks.
YourDreamGM: It’s not an overpay according to the market.
Kikuchi was better contract so this one is a over pay according to market.
It’s not a drastic overpay. I would have paid more to get 2 years. Actually would have got a club option at a higher amount in addition to his player option. I need to get the risk reward closer to center. If he refuses there are other options. Don’t think he would though. With number of teams in small markets, bad markets, losing tv deals, fighting luxury tax, not contending, or looking for a better pitcher or safer option, there isn’t that much competition at this price point.
I believe the contract will end up being at least fair value.
Montas’stuff already improved post trade. A 2 MPH increase in velocity is significant. To me, that says the rest is a matter of coaching. Heck, a defensive upgrade at 1B like Walker or Santana would help the rotation across the board.
Montas’ stuff improved in MIL, all the way to a 4.35 FIP—still below average, in short.
Severino and Manaea really weren’t that good in 2024. Why am I the only one who seems to understand this????
Montas has been on a pretty steady decline. I loved the Severino gamble. Manaea completely changed his mechanics and became a new pitcher. I don’t really see Montas making a huge impact. This feels like an overpay for backend depth, but Cohen can afford it. They need pitching. Now they need less pitching.
His numbers increased across the board after being traded from Cincy. I think we’ve all seen Milwaukee engineer enough successful pitcher reclamations to know if they’re willing to acquire a pitcher, his arm is far from dead.
But who knows? I could always be wrong. What I do know is that a grand total of $70 million in contract commitments. (that’s for the duration of all contracts handed out last offseason), was enough to get the Mets to the NLCS. And as much as it pains me to say it, they gave the Dodgers far more of a fight than the Yankees.
That and the fact that Stearns’ Brewers were always one of the most efficient in the league in terms of dollars spent per win, is more than enough for me to trust the process.
*Meant to say improved, not increased.
Manaea didn’t become a new pitcher he’s the same guy he’s always been an ordinary starter.
Then why did he receive Cy Young votes? Certainly not for first place, but votes nonetheless.
I disagree that the Mets gave the Dodgers more of a fight. I understand the series was 4-2, but every game was a massive blowout. The Yankees were a few outs away from winning 3 games of that series. Every game was relatively close. The Dodgers only challenge was San Diego.
Sharp increase. Only year that matters is what he will do in 2025. Milwaukee numbers seem like a better indicator than Cincinnati NY. 2025 should be and improvement. Best year since Oakland days.
He completely changed his mechanics and got better results.
Highly dependent on Montas pitching tho….and also, pitching well…
@Blackpink,
I see a pattern in your posts from topic to topic.
So the Mets blew out the Dodgers in two games but you give the Yankees and Padres more credit for losing close?
You want to know about a pattern?
I speak my opinion on teams that I don’t really care one way or another about. The fans from said team, who do have a bias, get defensive and weird and try to gang up on me. This happens all the time. It’s a pattern for sure.
Why do you care if the Mets overpay or not? They can afford it.
Yeah Yankees def put up the better series in terms of matching the Dodgers. I think a healthy Senga probably pushes that series to 7 games though winning 1 of his 2 starts at least. He clearly wasn’t himself game 1 after missing the entire season apart from one start.
I don’t give the Yankees more credit. I just disagree that the Mets gave the Dodgers more of a fight. Both series weren’t close IMO. Mets only beat 1 Dodgers starter. Both series were one-sided.
Can we not engage in revisionism? The Yankees were less than halfway towards winning 2 games when the defense imploded in the 5th inning.
Obviously it’s because you’re the only one who thinks they weren’t good. Do you have any stats or anything you can add to the argument or … ?
“Why am I the only one who seems to understand this????” Probably because there’s no metric that really backs you up on that island you built for yourself.
Severino was the lesser of the two but had a huge bounceback from his disastrous 2023 – he went from a 6.65 ERA/6.14 FIP with an 8.2% walk rate, 18.9% strikeout rate, and 5.5% HR rate in 89.1 IP to 3.91/4.21, 7.9% BB, 21..2% K, and 3.0% HR over 182 innings. Clearly the Mets and Jeremy Hefner were able to do something there.
Manaea was even better – 3.47 ERA/3.83 FIP in a career high 181.2 IP and three very good postseason starts – he even got some downballot Cy Young attention. Both guys had fastball/sinker combos that ranked in the 90th+ percentile value-wise per Savant as well. Acting like they weren’t all that good is just choosing to avoid readily available information.
Of course Severino improved on his 2023 season his 2023 was awful.
FIP of 3.83 and 4.21. That’s not exciting. Both are worthy of rotation spots but thats not good production nothing to get excited about at all. And the Mets offered rhe pair 42 million for that production. Yuck.
Kikuchi was worth less bWAR than both those guys this year and just signed for that same $21M AAV – and I’d argue that since both Severino and Manaea declined the QOs, they believe they will be able to lock in more guaranteed money than that in free agency.
And offering a guy the QO is less about trying to retain them at the QO price point and more about the draft compensation for a guy that may have priced himself out of your plans.
Just because the Angels are stupid doesn’t make the Mets smart. Wait until April and we can talk about who was smart and stupid.
Offering a player more than he’s worth hoping he’s too dumb to accept the offer isn’t a good strategy.
Los Angeles and New York are big markets with money to burn. Wait until the big markets run out of spots to fill and we will see what players are actually worth. We got all offseason dude just wait and see.
@Blackpink You either value players differently than anyone else or your definition of good is wrong. The blew past their contracts with their performance.
What do you think a pitcher with a FIP of 4 is worth????
Maybe you could say they earned their money in 2023. But there is no way you can say they are worth 42 million dollars in 2025. No way. Wait and see what other starting pitchers get paid for 2025 after some of these big spending dopes are out of the way. Just wait and see
I don’t use fip to value players so no idea. Can be anywhere from 10 to 30 million. Really doesn’t tell me anything.
FIP is the best way to predict a pitchers future performance. And that’s what we are doing here.
FIP is a bad stat that only looks at less then half of a pitchers outcomes.
I obviously have better methods than fip
FIP is the best stat to predict future performance. Of course things like age and health should be considered. But if you want 1 stat that should give you an idea for what to expect from a pitcher it’s FIP.
I don’t use stats to predict future performance so no idea what stat is best. Fip might be best. Better than most for sure.
“Why am I the only one who seems to understand this????”
Probably because you’re wrong. Sevy pitched fine and Manaea exceeded expectations. Not sure why you hate Sevy so much that you mention how bad you think he was in like every thread about the Mets.
Sevy? Kind of weird to start tossing out nicknames isn’t it?
I barely even noticed the guy in 2024. The only thing I have said about him this offseason is it was shocking the Mets gave him the qualifying offer he isn’t worth it. Thats what I said about him. It’s not hate goofball I don’t know the guy. I don’t care one way or another about the Mets not my team.
“Sevy? Kind of weird to start tossing out nicknames isn’t it?”
It’s literally his nickname and has been for years. It’s even listed as his nickname on his Baseball Reference page. I don’t know why that would bother you.
“It’s not hate goofball I don’t know the guy.”
Then why are you constantly bringing him up on every Mets article and telling everyone how terrible you thought he was in 2024? I’ve read this opinion from you like 25 times already and the offseason is barely a month old. If that’s not hatred then I don’t know what is.
Why are you using his nickname? That’s weird dude. Weird.
I am not picking on the Mets bozo. I am speaking my unbiased opinion. The problem is YOU have a bias and because of that you are getting weirdly defensive.
Do you think only Mets fans should comment on Mets articles and moves? I gotta imagine there are websites where that’s how it works. This isn’t one of those sites……
His nickname is commonly used throughout baseball. It’s more weird that you’re calling out someone for using it.
Lmao blackpink you’re the weirdest dude here
Manaea had his best season as a pro. What games were you watching?
dankyank: He’ll work in the Mets pitching lab and improve.
Bingo. Stearns excels at putting together rosters and coaching staffs. He’s got plenty left in the tank.
Well said, dank.
It seems an overpay, but Stearns is pretty shrewd so maybe there is something there us “experts” on the internet don’t see perhaps?
Overpay: who cares, it isn’t our money. I say good job for the guy, he gets paid. Mets needed pitching. And, it puts pressure on cheap owners to boost spending on their teams.
Everyone who talks such nonsense fails to grasp that money spent like this isn’t money spent elsewhere.
Why should you care? For precisely that reason.
The last Brewers SP that Stearns acquired was Adrian Houser. How’d that work out? Montas likely performs similarly provided he doesn’t spend most of 2025 on the IL.
Montas made his MLB debut in 2015 and was a Brewer for three months of that time. – and since he was a free agent signing, Stearns didn’t actually acquire him from the Brewers, either. Feels like a bit of a straw to be grasping at.
@royhobbs,
Montas has upper 90’s heat.
Houser was a cost effective, walk year, 5 mil trade acquisition that also netted Tyrone Taylor. for multiple seasons.
@royhobbs7 That doesn’t even qualify as a data point towards evaluating this signing.
That said, ugh. This looks singularly unimpressive.
I’m glad there is all the naysayers with this move. The same thing happened last year with the Mets starter signings and they all ended up pretty good.
Did we all forget the Adrian Houser acquisition?
That’s what you got. A spot starter/long reliever that was traded as a throw in with a valuable outfield piece. I think any GM would take the results the Mets got last year for the money spent.
5 mil, 1 year trade acquisition for #5 starter/reliever depth option that also included Tyrone Taylor. Worked out pretty well getting Taylor and Stearns cut Houser loose mid season.
@metsin4 In fact, no. Once it was clear the Mets were signing no multiyear deals, no one with more than half a brain thought their SP signings were anything worse than ‘shrug, why not?’
Yes, this is an overpay, but the key to his signing is that he wasn’t on a QO. Hopefully, he can overachieve in a pitcher’s park.
Every pitcher overachieves in pitchers’ parks.
Traditional stats might show Montas is terrible.
But he’s actually not terrible
The reason mainly is perceived velo is high
The secondary stuff is nasty too, but sometimes he leaves a floater up there and he gives up HRs
That can inflate ERA and make it look like the pitcher is worse than he actually is
When he doesn’t have his good stuff he probably gets lit up bad with HRs, and it inflates ERA
The bottom line is this guy is nasty. It is not easy to hit
So what you are saying is he’s good when he’s not bad?
Lol
“You see, if you ignore him being terrible, he’s actually good.”
Not giving up homers is a skill. One that he doesn’t have. I swear you nerds just assume everything is luck.
I had him going to the Giants. Now I’m 2 for 4. The inevitable decline has started. 2 for 50 here I come!
Ug what an awful player to sign. I wouldn’t even want him as a fifth starter. Complete waste of money. A rotation of Senga, Peterson, Montas, Blackburn, and one of Sproat/Megill means that we are going to finish behind the Nationals next year, 4th place finish. There are so many better options out there like Burnes, Bieber, Eovaldi, Manaea, Buehler, and I’d even prefer Severino over Montas as well. Dollar Tree David strikes again
What makes you think this is the only addition to the rotation this winter? So hellbent on criticizing that you fail to exercise any common sense whatsoever.
aw dang i forgot the rule that once you sign one starting pitcher you are completely done for the rest of the offseason. can’t believe Stearns would waste that opportunity like this!!!
Dollar tree David?
Lol good lord. This Mets fan is whining because the owner is cheap. That’s awesome…..
@LFGMets,
Please stop with the drama. It’s December 1st. They were two wins shy of the World Series in David Stearn’s first season with the Mets. His teams make the playoffs over and over.
I have to give Stearns credit after last year (and after his record in Milwaukee), despite the appearance of the signing as a $5m overpay even without the player option.
The uptick in K’s after Montas went to MIL, and the drop in FIP after leaving CIN along with a few other stats show promise. But none of these changes are more than marginal or came in more than trivial sample sizes. You’d have to decide things like Montas’s HR allowed, neutralized wrt luck, would be close to 1.0 in 2024 for the deal to be worth it—then you could begin to make the case that this is a signing worth 2/34m if it doesn’t go well.
Still, his SIERA was right around 3.75 in 4 of the 5 seasons prior to 2024. That’s probably the main argument without digging into peripherals’ peripherals.
LFGMets#BannedForBeingADope
Why are you so harebrained? You take every move and sprint to these forums to complain how it’s not enough and that the team will fail with only this one move made.
This exact comment you just made you made all last year. You’re clueless and reactionary and you have no forethought or capacity to rationalize.
Unfortunately they can’t sign 5 Nolan Ryans so prepare to be disappointed.
Bro the winter meetings haven’t happened yet. The organization makes hundreds and hundreds of moves each year, not EVERY SINGLE ONE is the litmus test for competency that you think it is.
@Don’tBeDumb if I was the GM, I’d finish ahead of Stearns. Like I’ve said in the past, I don’t know how to draft, but I do know how to put together a championship baseball team. You don’t need any of this analytics crap. I can use my eyes to figure out who is good and who’s not
“some people are so far behind the race that they actually think their winning”
In case you ever had a singular moment of reflection and were curious why you’re lambasted as a fool it’s because of what you just wrote.
You just explained in detail why you’re 50 years behind the conversation. That’s the final straw for me, with you, and your unfathomable stupidity. Can’t waste anymore of my time with people at the bottom of the barrel. Bye bye dumb dumb.
Seems last year’s $13MM is now $17MM. Not a fan, not opposed. Whatever.
This isn’t inflation it’s just a team with too much money paying too much.
Yeah, $12.5M is the new $8M, $17M is the new $13M, $23M is the new $18M, $27M is the new $23M, $30M is the new $24M, etc etc
For the Mets sake they better hope Montas does better in Queens than he did in the Bronx
This is unexpected. Far above what anyone thought he would sign for. Between Snell, Kikuchi, the Edman extension, and now Montas, the market is showing that there is a huge amount of money to be thrown around.
Huge amount in the big markets. I think we will see the have and have nots at a greater level this offseason. Mainly because of the tv money that is creating a bigger gap.
$17MILLION for Frankie Montas per yr..? Excuse me fellas, gota go in backyard n play catch w/Junior. Smh
A bit too much money if you ask me, but we’ll see how the market shakes out. Kikuchi’s deal seemed like too much as well, and Snell got a bundle, so maybe the market has shifted again.
Mets rotation prior to this move was Senga (coming off of injuries) and Peterson (who took a big step forward in 2024 but will need to prove it’s not a fluke). Mets needed to replace Severino, Manaea, Quintana, and Christian Scott. They have Sproat waiting in the wings. They realistically need to sign two more starters. I’m not sure I would have gone after Montas, but the bottom line is they need arms and Cohen can afford it if this move doesn’t work out.
I should add in reference to the article above that I don’t think Megill is in the Mets rotation plans this year and Blackburn’s injury is odd enough that I’m not sure you can count on him for much.
Inflation in Baseball Huh ?
This guy is worth maybe 10, and that’s a bad contract per year. 17 is astronomically ridiculous.
These two year, opt out after one are crazy player friendly. For premium arms such as Snell last year, it’s worth it for an organization, but these mediocre bounce back types are enough risk as it is.
Something like a 3 million mutual option buy out after the first year makes more sense. He pitches well to great- go get yourself a better payday Frankie. He gets hurt or stinks- that 17 mil risk is now an even 20, best of luck to you.
Boras did well for his client.
I want to thank all the clowns who chose to post their abject ignorance. This comments thread is an all time winner. Keeeeeeeep posting because I delight in keyboard warrior ignorance.
If Montas is worth $17m a year to the Mets, I hope they offered about $85m a year to Soto.
That’s dumb I’m glad you have no control over any decisions this franchise makes
Back of the rotation innings eater with average results. Necessary for any team.
Except Montas hasn’t been close to average since 2021.
It’s ridiculous.
It’s disrespectful.
It’s disgusting.
After Montas @ 2years/$34MM and Boyd @ 2year/$29MM, Nick Martinez @ 1year/$21MM looks like a bargain.
My problem with Montas is I have those awful memories of him with the Yankees and his injuries. He is a number 4 pitcher at best and my guess is he is replacing Severino. To his credit, he was durable last year.
Frankie goes to Manhattan?
Yikes. Terrible deal for a player who barely cracks a good team’s rotation. How much more will Sevy and Manea get?
Yeah but without any facts, stats or substantial counter points it doesn’t look like you’ve made a good argument for this being a “terrible deal”.
Have you seen his numbers? He is not very good. Any way you look at it. He made his starts, but he is a 4-5 starter. Barely good enough to crack the Reds or Brewers rotations. Unless they think they can unlock something.
Frankie Montas needs a pillow contract with an opt-out….OK.
WTF, they could’ve gotten Buehler or Sasaki for that , he’s a 4th or 5th starter $17 mil for Montas is a waste
Wait till you see what they finally sign for
Buehler and Sasaki
Jvent This is a nonsense comment. Why’d you even make it?
sasaki would be a league minimum contract
Did I wake up and miss something? Did the Angels front office move to the Mets?
Even if he opts out likely an overpay and if he does not differently it will be.
A guy who got $16 mil last year is getting $17 mil this year…it’s not an overpay, it’s the market rate. Go back to sleep.
Wow, well I guess maybe Stroman does have some trade value.
Wow. Starting pitching is expensive.
Did not see Montas signing with the Mets, had him signing a one-year deal for 15 million with the Angels. A two-year deal for him seems like an overpay, but Mets got Severino back on track, I can definitely see them getting Montas to the same or close to, level he was with the Athletics.
Exactly, could see the potential for some upside with the increase in strike outs. Opt outs could go either way but generally think they provide the incentive to outperform in which case both sides do well. Overall decent replacement for Severino and now they can let him walk and get the QO compensation.
Mets probably confused him for Sean Manaea; it happens
Yeah probably
Ironically, I’ve gotten the two mixed up. Pretty sure they both pitched for the A’s at the same time
6 full seasons together
Does this mean they are out on SOTO?
Yes they had to decided between Frankie Montas and Juan Soto. They went with Frankie.
which is what everyone was screaming at them to do, it took them a while but they finally made the obvious choice for the long run
Pirates SP, Luis Ortiz, trade value just went up significantly. Who here would rather have Montas in their rotation over a pre-arb Luis Ortiz for the next couple years?
Luis ortiz will cost alot if traded, but the pirates seem set on building a superstar rotation. me personally do not wanna see him leave
Understandable, but Pirates need bonafide MLB proven hitters now. Trading from pitching depth to acquire hitting is the most likely scenario since Nutting doesn’t allow for FA’s on more than a 1-year deal to be signed.
Apparently he was a great clubhouse presence with the Reds last year. He helped a lot of the young pitchers on the Reds staff. I wish him well.
Which is not an issue the Mets have.
Helped the Reds staff but didn’t help himself
Terrible signing. Montas has been horrible since leaving pitcher-friendly Oakland. This is a downgrade from Manaea, Severino, and Quintana. They’re going backwards with their rotation.
The Mets are so poised on Soto that they are overlooking pitching big time.
A huge overpay and not an improvement over the departing starters but if the Mets were able to fix Severino and Manaea, they might be able to fix Montas also.
How did they “fix” Severino?
mets didnt “fix” manaea. He “fixed ” himself after a bad first half and bullpen stint in 2023 with the padres. He has always been consistently good. with last year being great
Manaea was just okay the first half of 2024, ERA over 4 in late June. then he mimicked the Sale delivery and thats when his performance noticeably improved. Idk if the mets helped with that or if that was all on his own.
He was so bad for the Yankees. Hope he’s #5 on the Mets because he just isn’t great
I argued with Mets fans about Cohen mindlessly spending money. This is one of those times
I’m thinking that if the Mets miss out on Soto we are going to see more signings like this and the Mets reset the luxury tax this season.
For this amount of money, bad signing.
Not a bad trade
My how things change. A guy pitching 150 innings is an innings eater now.
I can hear the chants now
O-VER-PAY
Frankie goes to Flushing.
Makes it sound like he has diarrhea or something.