The New York Mets have made a strategic move in the offseason by signing veteran right-hander Frankie Montas to a lucrative two-year deal worth $34 million. This acquisition signals the Mets' determination to bolster their pitching rotation and compete for top honors in the league.
Frankie Montas, at 31 years of age, offers a mix of experience and potential resilience. Last season, Montas split his time between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers, making a considerable 30 starts. He posted a 4.84 ERA and achieved a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.24, numbers that, while not extraordinary, hint at his capability to stabilize a rotation under the right conditions.
A Focused Arsenal
Montas’ performance with the Brewers is particularly noteworthy. Upon joining Milwaukee, he showed a strategic shift in his pitch selection, placing increased emphasis on his sinker and cutter while dialing back the use of his slider and splitter. This adaptability in approach reflects a pitching mentality attuned to leveraging his strengths.
Public-facing pitch-quality models rate Montas' slider, splitter, and sweeper as above average, suggesting untapped potential in his repertoire. Indeed, his arsenal—the two mid-90s fastballs, the cutter, splitter, and slider—offers him a versatile array of options on the mound. Mets' top baseball operations executive, David Stearns, likely sees this range as fertile ground for improvement, echoing the sentiment that "the ingredients are here for better numbers."
Building Depth in the Rotation
The Mets have been proactive in expanding their pitching depth. Previously, they added Sean Manaea and Luis Severino on short-term contracts. However, with Jose Quintana potentially leaving as a free agent, the need for reliable arms like Montas is paramount. Despite his limited impact as a former Yankee in 2022, wherein he made only eight starts and missed nearly all of 2023, the Mets remain optimistic about Montas' potential contributions.
Montas is no stranger to success on the mound, having made 10-plus starts in six different seasons and even finishing as high as sixth in Cy Young Award voting during a notable campaign. These aspects of his career underscore a record that, while checkered with injuries and some inconsistencies, reveals a wealth of experience and flashes of brilliance.
Commitment to Success
For the Mets, the decision to sign Montas represents more than an addition to their roster; it symbolizes their continued ambition and willingness to invest in veteran talent as part of a broader strategy to remain competitive. Montas’ signing indicates a vision where both current performance metrics and future potential are heavily weighed.
There is optimism within the organization that Montas will thrive in New York, reacquainting himself with a form that can tip the scales in tightly contested matchups. The competitive NL East demands durable, high-caliber pitching, and with Montas, the Mets believe they have secured a key piece to anchor their efforts.
As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Montas and the impact he can make on a Mets team looking to shine on the biggest stages. His integration into the squad will undoubtedly be a storyline to follow, with fans and analysts alike eager to see if the right-hander can harness his potential and lead the charge in a Mets resurgence.