The Mets signed former Yankee Frankie Montas to a one-year deal, bringing in a pitcher who has dealt with long-term injuries but has a pedigree of success in his past.
Sound familiar?
One of David Stearns’ first signings with the Mets was Luis Severino, a former Yankee who had a deep injury history but also a resume that included Cy Young attention during multiple seasons. The Severino deal worked out very well for Stearns in 2024, so C-Mac says fans shouldn’t be quick to dismiss the addition of Montas.
“Last year, he was super successful with it...that rotation was supposed to be what kept them from being a winning team, but instead...that rotation was the best in baseball from June on,” C-Mac said. “That was a superb job by Stearns. So he deserves some leeway with whoever he signs.
“They have to do much better than this, and I think they will, no doubt. This is just the first move. This isn’t the old Mets...they have a whole rotation to fill. You knew they were gonna have to sign a Frankie Montas.”
Severino and Sean Manaea are among the longest list of free agents by a team this winter (the Mets have 14), so there is plenty of work to be done and plenty of spots to fill. Sure, Montas was underwhelming with a 4.84 ERA last season between the Reds and Brewers, but C-Mac believes the righty could work out fine as a back-of-the-rotation starter, and while the AAV is more than he would have liked, he wouldn’t put it past Jeremy Hefner and company maximizing Montas the way they did Severino and Manaea.
“We know what Frankie Montas is...this is a serviceable starting pitcher...at $17 million per, I don’t love the deal, but the Mets have a lot of money, and they have an entire rotation to fill,” C-Mac said.