New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in the Bronx on Friday before the team's series opener against the crosstown-rival New York Yankees, according to Newsday's Laura Albanese. It was a big step for Montas, as it was his first time facing live hitters since suffering a high-grade right-lat strain in mid-February at the start of spring training. The next step for the 32-year-old veteran will be to start a minor-league rehab assignment. Because of all the time off, Montas is expected to have a lengthy rehab assignment, but barring setbacks after he starts pitching in games, he could be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Mets and 2025 debut in early June. The Dominican hurler made just one appearance in 2023 while recovering from shoulder surgery and was very inconsistent with the Brewers and Reds in 2024 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 150 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers have to hope the Mets' coaching staff can turn him around.
New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) threw his fourth bullpen session on Friday, and his goal is to face live hitters by the end of next week, according to NorthJersey.com's Andrew Tredinnick. Montas was shut down from throwing for almost two months after he was diagnosed with a high-grade right-lat strain in mid-February at the start of spring training. The 32-year-old veteran restarted a throwing program in mid-April, though, and is slowly making progress towards his 2025 season debut with the Mets. The Dominican hurler is ahead of lefty Sean Manaea, who is ramping up from an oblique injury. Montas is currently on the 60-day injured list and isn't expected to rejoin New York's starting rotation until early June, barring a setback. He made just one appearance in 2023 due to injury and was up and down while allowing a ton of hard contact with Milwaukee and Cincy a season ago.
New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) threw his third bullpen session on Tuesday but still needs a full spring training-style buildup before he's cleared to rejoin the Mets' starting rotation. Montas suffered a high-grade lat strain in mid-February before the start of spring training and went six to eight weeks without throwing at all. There's a chance we could see the 32-year-old veteran later this month, but it's more likely that he won't make his debut with New York until sometime in June after a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment. The Mets shifted Montas to the 60-day injured list last week. Montas made just one appearance in 2023 due to injury and was very inconsistent with the Reds and Brewers last year, posting a 4.84 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 148:66 K:BB in 150 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers just have to hope the Mets can turn him around like they have so far with Griffin Canning.
The New York Mets transferred right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. It's merely a procedural move and won't affect Montas' timetable for return. He is not eligible to come off the IL until June. The 32-year-old veteran has been out all season to this point after suffering a high-grade right-lat strain early in spring training. When Montas is eventually ready after embarking on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, he should have a starting-rotation spot waiting for him in New York after signing a two-year, $34 million deal last December. The Dominican hurler only threw 1 1/3 innings in 2023 due to injury and was very mediocre with a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in his 30 starts with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers last year, so fantasy managers may want to temper expectations when he returns.
New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) has resumed throwing and has played catch from 60 feet, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Montas has finally started a throwing program since he suffered a high-grade right-lat strain at the start of spring training in the middle of February. Because of the long layoff and the fact that he has to completely build up his arm, the 32-year-old veteran hurler should be expected to miss at least the first month of the season, and possibly more. He was better after being traded to the Brewers last year, but Montas was still very inconsistent overall in 2024 and finished with a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 148 strikeouts and 66 walks in 150 2/3 innings over 30 starts with Milwaukee and Cincinnati. Especially since he hasn't shown a ton of strikeout upside in his career, Montas should be on the waiver wire in 12-team mixed fantasy leagues for the time being.
New York Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas (lat) underwent an MRI earlier this week that showed good healing, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The right-hander remains a week or two away from beginning a throwing program. The 32-year-old suffered a high-grade lat strain early in camp. The expectation is that Montas is going to be sidelined for the first month of the season. The organization is hopeful Montas can return to the starting rotation at some point in May. Montas is coming off a fairly average season in 2024, so he's not someone that must be stashed in fantasy formats.
New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat), who has been diagnosed with a high-grade lat strain, said he's "already feeling better" from the platelet-rich plasma injection that he received at camp this week. Montas will not throw for four to six weeks, which is a little more optimistic than the team's projection. "It's not how you start," Montas said. "It's how you finish." The Mets said earlier this week that the 31-year-old veteran would be kept from throwing for six to eight weeks. It's not uncommon for players to be more optimistic, but that doesn't mean he'll return sooner than later in 2025, especially when considering his past injury concerns. Once Montas resumes throwing, he's going to need a full spring training's worth of time to ramp up, which means he's pretty much a lock to miss at least the first month of the regular season.
Frankie Montas Has High-Grade Lat Strain, To Be Shut Down 6-8 Weeks
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) is dealing with a high-grade lat strain and will be shut down for six to eight weeks. Once he's healthy enough to return, he'll need a full spring-training buildup. It's early bad news for New York's starting rotation and means that Montas will not be ready for Opening Day in his first year in Queens. The 31-year-old signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Mets in the offseason but will now receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in hopes of speeding up his recovery. At the very least, Montas will likely miss all of the first month of the season and probably more. It means that both Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill could begin the year in the Mets' starting rotation, with Paul Blackburn (back) also competing for a spot.
Free-agent right-hander Frankie Montas signed a two-year deal worth $34 million on Sunday with the New York Mets. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2025 season and $17 million per year. Montas, 31, comes to the Big Apple after spending the 2024 campaign with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. He went a combined 7-11 during the regular season with a 4.84 ERA (4.71 FIP), a 1.37 WHIP and a 148:66 K:BB in 150 2/3 innings pitched over 30 starts. Montas, who made just one outing the year prior with the New York Yankees due to injury, was better in Milwaukee with a 4.55 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in his 11 start (57 1/3 innings). The veteran right-hander will fill one of New York's starting rotation spots in 2025 and will look to improve upon his 2024 numbers another year removed from injury. Montas' 28.7% strikeout rate last year was encouraging.
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Frankie Montas declined his portion of his $20 million mutual option for the 2025 season on Monday to officially become a free agent. The Brewers also claimed right-hander Kevin Herget off waivers from the New York Mets and claimed left-hander Rob Zastryzny off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. Montas will receive a $2 million buyout and is now free to sign with any team. The 31-year-old veteran began the year with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Brewers at the deadline. The Dominican hurler went a combined 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA (4.71 FIP), a 1.37 WHIP, 148 strikeouts and 66 walks in 150 2/3 innings over 30 starts after missing pretty much all of 2023 due to injury. He was slightly better in 11 regular-season starts for the Brewers and will be hoping to take that momentum into 2025.
Frankie Montas
• SP
•
Mets
