It wasn't that long ago that the Yankees, in the midst of Aaron Judge's historic home run season, traded for Frankie Montas in hopes of strengthening their rotation for the long run in October. do not have.
The Yankees reached the ALCS in the 2022 season, but with little help from Montas. Montas was plagued by shoulder injuries that ultimately led to surgery that would take him through most of the 2023 season.
He still hasn't returned to his pre-injury form, allowing just 7.8 hits per nine innings in 19 games started in the first half of 2022 with the Athletics.
However, several scouts and executives within MLB said Tuesday that Montas showed positive signs with the Brewers late last season and that teaming up with Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner would allow the 31-year-old to do the same. He said he believed it could help him return to the heights of his career.
But most importantly, the same scouts and executives agree that the Mets don't necessarily want Montas as the No. 2 starter behind Kodai Chiga, and that Montas has high expectations after agreeing to a two-year, $34 total. It was pointed out that it is suitable enough to exceed. The $1 million contract has been widely compared to the deals David Stearns and others gave to Sean Manaea and Luis Severino last offseason.
“If he's healthy and the team is doing well, I'm going to take a chance with him,” one executive said Tuesday. “He's a smart pitcher, so it's going to be good to pair him with Hefner.”
Montas is currently looking to join a rotation that includes Chiga, David Peterson, Tyler Megill and Paul Blackburn.
Montas was inconsistent with the Reds early last year, but pitched better as the season progressed, further coming off shoulder surgery he underwent in 2023.
Manaea tinkered with the arm slot last year and had great success with the Mets last season, as Manaea bounced back after two below-average seasons with a strong season in Queens.
Two encouraging signs stood out after Montas was transferred from Cincinnati to Milwaukee. His batting average plummeted and his strikeout rate skyrocketed.
“When he was in Oakland, that was what set him apart,” one scout said. “He was hard to hit. That's how he was the last few months last year.”
And with the Mets and Hefner rehabbing the careers of Manaea and Severino, Montas appears poised to be the next rebuilding project.
The Mets weren't able to get a similar turnaround from Adrian Hauser, who was traded from the Brewers last offseason and released in July, but scouts say Montas' past success is reason for optimism. points out.
“He pitched 150 innings last year, and I expect his command to be even better because I think he's still getting back to normal,” said one AL. Scout said. “If there's anything left in the tank, and almost certainly, I expect them to get it out of him.”
