The Mets announced that right-hander Frankie Montas has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Right-hander Chris Devenski was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse as the corresponding active roster move. He has enough service time where he can’t be optioned without his consent, so he has presumably agreed to be sent down. To open a 40-man spot for Montas, outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker has been transferred to the 60-day IL.
Montas, 32, will be making his debut as a Met when he starts tonight’s game. At the moment, it’s difficult to guess what sort of quality of performance he’ll be able to provide. He was diagnosed with a lat strain back in mid-February. He started a rehab assignment in late May but hasn’t looked sharp, allowing 25 earned runs in 18 2/3 innings over six minor league starts.
Teams generally care more about health than results on a rehab assignment but a 12.05 earned run average is going to cause some concern. It would be one thing if Montas started rough and had been getting sharper but that hasn’t been the case. He surrendered five earned runs in five innings in his most recent outing, with just two strikeouts. The prior outing had seen him allow eight earned runs without getting out of the second inning.
Even before this year, there were question marks with Montas. He had missed almost all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery. Back on the mound in 2024, his 4.84 ERA wasn’t strong. The Mets seemed to be banking on his late-season strikeout surge. He had struck out just 19% of batters faced with the Reds but then 28.7% of opponents following a trade to the Brewers. He then headed into free agency and secured a two-year, $34MM deal from the Mets, with equal salaries of $17MM and an opt-out halfway through.
That was a notable investment in a pitcher who hadn’t been at his best in a few years. The Mets are also paying a 110% tax on spending beyond the top competitive balance tax threshold this year, making it an even more significant expenditure which they have yet to receive any return on.
Despite that cash outlay, the righty’s recent struggles on his rehab assignment almost pushed him to the bullpen. However, the club’s rotation picture changed quickly in recent weeks. Not too long ago, it seemed the club had so much rotation depth that a Paul Blackburn trade was reportedly considered. But then both Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill hit the injured list in the span of a few days, opening rotation space for both Blackburn and Montas alongside David Peterson, Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning.
If everyone is healthy, another squeeze could be just over the horizon. Sean Manaea is also on the IL and just a bit behind Montas in his rehab process. He recently made his fourth rehab appearance, getting to 62 pitches over 5 1/3 innings. Montas is getting a rotation spot for now due to the club’s need and the fact that his 30-day rehab window was closing but there will be pressure on him to perform in order to keep that spot.
As for Winker, he landed on the IL on May 5th due to a right oblique strain. His 60-day count is retroactive to that initial IL placement, so he’ll be eligible for reinstatement in early July. He was initially given a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks but the Mets recently said that he is still multiple weeks away from starting a rehab assignment.
Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images
Fireworks at Citi Field tonight. 😉
Lol yup, those Braves hitters will be providing the fireworks. Mets pitching staff was never going to keep up that run of success just like Judge was never going to keep hitting .400
Hopefully Stearns figures it out, they were never going to be that good but they are definitely not this bad either.
21-3 braves win. Final score
So y’all are saying I shouldn’t stream Montas tonight in Fantasy?!…Dang it ok fine (6ip 2er and 7so coming up watch lol)
@braveshomer: You were probably closer than 99% of people predicting the game tonight. 5 innings, 0 ER, 5 Ks.
Yep I was close! lol…it’s cuz I’m a Braves fan and know our offense is really not that good this season.
Been a solid 3 years now since Montas was a good pitcher.
“Been a solid”…Walker Beuhler is close to the same. Tommy John recovery is no sure thing, although I expect(hope?) improvement sometime this year from both Walker & Montas.
Is Vientos in AAA or injured ?
Injured
I believe he’s close to coming off a rehab assignment.
Rehab over but staying in AAA
His rehab is not over yet. And he can’t just “stay” in AAA. He is out of options. The Mets would have to DFA him and there’s just no way he goes unclamed. Mendoza told the press yesterday that he might be activated later this week.
They need more than Montas to fix their rotation issues. This signing had me head scratching from day 1. They spent all this money on Soto, traded away Verlander and Scherzer two years ago to free up cash and wave a white flag, and now they’re all in and signed Montas… don’t understand the logic behind this signing
Starting pitching depth. See Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s not really useful depth though. Aside from Senga, no one else is a proven starter
You don’t sign a guy for $17m for depth.
Mets should trade for Degrom. A rotation of Degrom, Senga, Manaea, Holmes, and a mix of Montas/Canning/McLean is solid if everyone is healthy
What was the reason they banned you this time? I’ve followed your account here the last two plus years and while I don’t catch everything you post, I’ve never once seen anything even bordering controversial. Weirdness abounds.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b I’m not going to go in-depth about why. I’ve gotten banned on here for critisizing managerial choices that were deemed “non-baseball” related reasons, saying something positive about Trevor Bauer, retaliating when someone called me an “idiot” (their post got to stay up though), making a joke about Ty Adcok’s name, critisizing various non-american players, and last time I got banned for explaining why I’ve gotten banned before. The worst thing about this site is that there is no moderation team where you can appeal. I’ve read all their terms of service and never violated the rules once
why not try just commenting like a normal person and not an unhinged teenager
@WideWorldofSports its ok to be jealous of my opinions. Unlike most people, I can come up with my own opinions instead of relying on some article or a sports writer like Jeff Passan who has no idea what he is talking about 90% of the time. I say it how I see it. You’re talking to a baseball genius
The Mets should make a trade with Arizona Mauricio for Suarez ? Suarez can play 3b and Vientos DH
Yeesh that’s potentially a hefty price to pay for half a year of Suarez but the Mets might have to do something like that. Suarez would be a great fit.
@ Camikey. Thats not the problem with this trade idea. Right now, Mauricio is just potential and nothing more. Its not any steeper than most contenders would do if they were just a player or two away. Problem #1 is the Mets seem to be more than just a player or two away. Problem 2 is that there are more pressing needs than 3B to address with our prospect capital. Problem 3 s the ballpark in which Suarez is currently playing, his age, and the fact that he hasn’t played like this in 6 years all suggest that the risk of him falling off as the season wears on is greater than usual.
I would consider this but it just seems like an unnecessary trade. They already have Vientos and Baty. Sure, they’re not as good as Suarez has been this year, but if they’re trading away prospects, I would rather they acquire relievers.
You could pick up Jeimer Candelario for just money. Eugenio and Naylor are being shipped off to the Mariners.
@ Ignorant Candelario’s bat is even a liability right now. Never mind his fielding.
How about Bregman from the BoSox??. Once he gets off the IL. Which will be soon. Bregman could be the one key guy who really ties that Mets lineup together.
He’d be a great fit, especially since he’ll probably be opting out and the Mets won’t be stuck with him long term. But how much prospect capital will he cost? Is this Mets club really close enough to long-term, sustainable contention and this farm system deep enough to justify that cost?
My personal opinion is that Bregman would definitely be worth obtaining and his cost in trade assets should be very doable given that he is basically a pure rental (assuming he will be opting out and re-entering free agency end of season). There will be competition for him from other clubs but the Mets easily have the sparkling prospects in abundance to deal from. But yes, Mets will still need to add pitching …but AB could be enough on the offensive side …a big big boost.
I’m a little leery of a 33 year old suddenly having a second career year in that particular ballpark. BTW, how’s Christian Walker doing this year?
CW is just starting to get his batting line into the .215/.290/.320 range , so let’s say he off to a slow start. But better lately by a smidge or two.
I’m voting for the Free Beer and Pro Sex candidate
Hey there, geofft. Good points, the Mets need more than a better bat at third but it will sure help. They could use an upgrade in center and at least one arm for the bullpen, too. There’s a lot on Stearns’ checklist and guys like Mauricio, Acuna, Baty, and Vientos are definitely on the block. Unfortunately if they want high-impact returns they’ll have to consider dealing guys like Jett, Tong, Sproat, Benge, and/or McLean, too. It’s gonna be costly but the Mets are kind of pot-committed at this point and really have to be aggressive at the deadline. It’s gonna be interesting.