New York Mets
Photo by Tomas Eidsvold on Unsplash
December 3, 2024

Mets Moves: Montas in Agreement for Two-Years $34 Million

By Gabrielle Raucci
DavidStearnsMasterClass , Free Agency , MLB , New York Mets , Offseason Moves

Montas to Mets:  À la Manaea Special

New York – The Mets made more moves this week to address gaps in their pitching staff – Adding 31-year-old pitcher Frankie Montas to the rotation à la “Sean Manaea Special.” Pending a physical, the right-handed pitcher and the club have agreed to a $34 million two-year deal – This comes with a player opt-out after the first season.

Having struggled with a shoulder injury in previous seasons, the righty put up a 7-11 record with an ERA of 4.84 over 150.4 IP with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. The new addition to the staff brings a five-pitch mix; including an above-average-velo fastball, and an a-plus splitter.

Mets’ President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has previously voiced a priority for short-term deals to address gaps noticed in the 2024 season, with a heightened focus on their pitching – Both starters and relievers – Alluding to the structure around a long-term-franchise-sign like OF Juan Soto and/or 1B Pete Alonso. Mets’ advanced scouting has deemed Montas a worthy addition.

Master Class

While the Montas signing comes as a bit of a surprise, given Mets fans were hoping to bring back [at least one] of their now available starters from last season – Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and/or Jose Quintana – We’ve got to remember we are witnessing the #DavidStearnsMasterClass. As it is widely known across the league, the Stearns/Cohen Duo have plenty of money to spend and have sights set on building out this team to get even further than the previous season – You can’t really expect them to stop here.

There is a bit of a mixed bag of opinions with this one – But let us not forget about a similar tone regarding the addition of Luis Severino as a league veteran with some struggle/off-seasons, who proved to be a very nice fit for the Mets all the way through their 2024 postseason run. Especially with the variety of strong pitching available in the market, a short-term “inflated value” contract is a strategic approach for attracting some of those ring-chasing veterans for a career resurgence in Queens. There is still so much out there that the Mets will go after.

About the Author

Gabrielle Raucci
Lead Writer - New York Mets

Gabrielle is the Lead Writer for the New York Mets at ONNJ Sports, serving as your primary source for all coverage from Flushing, Queens—delivered with a touch of satirical humor.

A native of the Hudson Valley, she studied Business and Marketing at Marist College. With her experience in Minor League Baseball promotions, Gabrielle offers an insightful—often sarcastic—and entertaining perspective on Mets baseball as a lifelong fan.

From half-baked hot takes to bad puns, Gabrielle is committed to providing the finest commentary, fueled by her deep love for the game of baseball.

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