Mets sign Montas for $34M deal
The New York Mets have made a significant move by signing right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract, as reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. This deal reflects the Mets’ continued efforts to strengthen their roster ahead of the 2025 MLB season.
Montas, 31, posted a 7-11 record with a 4.84 ERA across 30 starts in 2024. Splitting the season between the Reds and Brewers, he pitched 150⅔ innings with 148 strikeouts and a 1.37 WHIP.
His strikeout rate notably jumped from 19.0% with the Reds to 28.7% after joining Milwaukee. These figures mark his second-highest career totals for starts and innings pitched, following his standout 2021 season with the Athletics.
Montas’ two-year, $34 million contract follows a one-year, $16 million deal with the Reds in 2024, which he declined to re-sign. The Mets’ commitment reflects confidence in his ability to remain healthy after making 30 starts in 2024, despite a brief stint on the injured list for a forearm contusion.
While his recent numbers don’t match his peak 2021 performance, Montas’ improved durability and post-trade strikeout rate make him a calculated addition to the Mets‘ rotation.
This signing marks Montas’ second stint in New York. He previously joined the Yankees in 2022 via a midseason trade after an impressive 3.18 ERA over 19 starts with the Athletics.
However, his time in the Bronx was far from successful. Injuries limited him to just nine appearances across two seasons, and his ERA ballooned to 6.35 over eight starts in 2022 before he underwent shoulder surgery.
The Mets are betting that Montas can stay healthy and regain the form that once made him a sought-after talent. His prior struggles in New York add intrigue to his return, but the potential upside could make this a rewarding gamble for the Mets.
Speculation has swirled around the Mets’ pursuit of superstar outfielder Juan Soto, and the Montas deal has added fuel to the fire. Both Montas and Soto share the same agent, Scott Boras, sparking theories about whether one signing might influence the other.
While this connection is worth noting, there’s no clear indication that landing Montas makes Soto any more likely to join the Mets. Boras represents numerous players and focuses on maximizing each client’s deal individually. Additionally, while Montas and Soto both hail from the Dominican Republic, this shared nationality doesn’t guarantee team decisions.
That said, the Mets’ ability to negotiate quickly and decisively with Boras could be a positive signal for Soto talks. By completing the Montas deal quietly, the Mets have shown they’re capable of closing big contracts without leaks—a strategy that could prove crucial in the high-stakes competition for Soto.
Read More: MLB Rumors: Red Sox eye Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander over Juan Soto
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