Frankie Montas was expected to boost the New York Mets' starting rotation in 2025 when they signed him to a two-year, $34 million contract in Dec. 2024.
The return on owner Steve Cohen's investment will have to wait.
Frankie Montas is dealing with a high-grade lat strain and will be shut down 6-8 weeks, Carlos Mendoza said.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) February 17, 2025
According to multiple reports out of the Mets' camp in St. Lucie, Florida on Monday, manager Carlos Mendoza said Montas is dealing with a high-grade lat strain and will miss the next 6 to 8 weeks before resuming a throwing program.
Montas, 31, is 44-46 with a 4.09 ERA in 160 career games (129 starts).
The Mets signed Montas coming off a season in which he went 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA in 30 starts — two shy of his career-high — and 150.2 innings for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.
Montas' last outing, coincidentally, was against the Mets in the National League Wild Card round. He started Game 2 for the Brewers and pitched into the fourth inning of Milwaukee's 5-3 victory.
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In Feb. 2023, Montas underwent surgery on his right shoulder, a procedure that ultimately limited him to one regular season game that year. The Reds gambled on Montas' health, signing him to a one-year, $14 million contract in Jan. 2024. The gamble paid off.
Montas made 19 starts for the Reds. Although his 4-8 record and 5.01 ERA (88 ERA+) were underwhelming, Cincinnati was able to flip Montas to Milwaukee on July 30, 2024 for Jakob Junis, Joey Weemer, and cash.
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The Mets gave Montas a two-year contract worth $17 million per season with the ability to opt out of his contract after this season.
They also brought back veteran left-hander Sean Manaea, and right-handers Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning, who can provide depth behind right-hander Kodai Senga, left-hander David Peterson, and right-hander Clay Holmes, who is attempting to land a spot in the starting rotation after closing for the New York Yankees last year.
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A six-week timeframe would mean Montas can only resume throwing March 31; the Mets open their regular season in Houston on March 27. An eight-week timeframe pushes Montas' next throws into April. According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Montas will head to New York for a platelet-rich plasma injection next.
The injury helps Canning's chances of making the Opening Day roster and increases the importance of Holmes being able to make the leap from the bullpen to the rotation.
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J.P. Hoornstra writes and edits Major League Baseball content. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers ... Read more