According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the New York Mets will sign free agent pitcher Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the deal, which is pending a physical, pays $17 million each year and contains an opt-out after year one.
Right-hander Frankie Montas and the New York Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Montas, 31, threw 150.2 innings with a 4.84 ERA with Cincinnati and Milwaukee last year. He’s the first piece in the Mets’ new rotation.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 2, 2024
Montas is now the third pitcher represented by Scott Boras to sign a significant free-agent contract this offseason after a disastrously slow winter last year.
Report: Mets Sign Frankie Montas to Two-Year Deal
Montas, who will be 32 on Opening Day, signed a similarly structured contract last offseason with the Cincinnati Reds. Unfortunately, he struggled with the Reds and posted a 5.01 ERA (89 ERA+) in 93 1/3 innings across 19 starts.
That said, his performance improved following a trade deadline deal to the Milwaukee Brewers. In 11 starts, Montas posted a 4.55 ERA (92 ERA+) in 57 1/3 innings. Though the numbers don’t immediately look that different, Montas was much more effective in Milwaukee.
The Brewers helped alter Montas’ pitch mix, which partly resulted in an increase in his strikeout rate following the trade (28.7% from 19%). Montas likely also benefitted from leaving Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly ballpark and from playing in front of an elite Brewers defense.
Frankie Montas in 2024:
7-11
150.2 IP
148 K
4.84 ERAWhat you are looking at right here is a prototypical David Stearns move, taking a chance on a guy with high upside coming off of a down year. pic.twitter.com/mJNPntIYSc
— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) December 2, 2024
Perhaps more importantly than his production, Montas stayed healthy last season. The right-hander missed most of 2023 due to labrum surgery, an injury that began bothering him in 2022. The injury limited him to only 41 total innings in his one-and-a-half years with the Yankees before becoming a free agent.
So, following a solid season that featured full health, Montas declined a $20 million mutual option for 2025 and chose a $2 million buyout. That now looks like the right choice, as Montas will sign with the Mets and secure a $34 million guarantee. Plus, if he pitches well, he can opt out again and look for an even bigger deal next winter.
For now, the Mets will look for Montas to fill a rotation void left by free agents Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Jose Quintana. If all goes well, Montas will experience a Manaea-like renaissance in Queens next year and lead them to a deep postseason run.
Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
