The Mets made the primary free agent signing of what’s anticipated to be a busy offseason, signing Frankie Montas to a two-year, 34 million-dollar contract. Nevertheless, this isn’t the transfer Mets followers wish to discuss with all of the rumors circulating round Juan Soto. This transfer has the prospect to make a significant impression for the Mets this season.
How Has Montas’s Profession Been?
Montas’s journey to the MLB began in 2009 when he signed with the Boston Purple Sox out of the Dominican Republic. He spent six seasons within the minors earlier than making his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2015. Nevertheless, he didn’t return to the bigs till the 2017 season with the then Oakland A’s, the place he was primarily a bullpen pitcher. He didn’t change into a full-time starter till 2019. Over his 9 seasons, he has frolicked with the White Sox, A’s, Yankees, Reds, and Brewers.
Over 744.1 innings pitched, he has an ERA of 4.09 with 760 strikeouts to 263 walks, a 1.309 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 101. In 2024, he pitched 150.2 innings to a 4.84 ERA with 148 strikeouts to 66 walks, a 1.367 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 89. He spent the season with the Reds and the Brewers, and his numbers received noticeably higher in Milwaukee. His ERA was .46 factors decrease with the Brewers than with the Reds.
Montas has 5 pitches in his arsenal: a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, split-finger, and slider. He depends closely on his four-seamer, which sits round 96 mph. He threw his four-seamer 33.2% of the time, together with his sinker being the closest to it at 19.1%. His four-seamer even jumped his split-finger as his put-away pitch, throwing it 47.7% of the time when the batter had two strikes.
How He Impacts the Mets
Now that there’s an understanding of the kind of pitcher Montas is, what is going to his position be on the Mets? Beginning pitching is a giant want for the Mets this offseason. With guys like Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana all being free brokers, the Mets have to replenish their rotation. Montas would be the substitute for Quintana. A again of the rotation arm that has excessive upside for the workforce. A dependable starter who can’t headline a rotation however might be an innings eater. He may be used as a swingman. A man who can both be the fifth within the rotation or the lengthy man popping out of the bullpen. He additionally has expertise enjoying in New York and with the expectations that include enjoying right here.
Nevertheless, what most Mets followers must be enthusiastic about is that if this will likely be one other David Streans success story. Ever since Streans was in Milwaukee, he’s had a knack for signing veteran pitchers to short-term offers, then turning them into all-stars. Manaea is the most effective instance of this. A man whose profession appeared over on the finish of the 2023 season, had a wonderful 2024 common and postseason, and is projected to signal a giant contract this offseason. A Manaea-like turnaround is unrealistic, however there isn’t any motive why Mets followers shouldn’t be enthusiastic about what his ceiling might be.
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